Rain forces Monarchs to call off derby clash
Weather causes fifth home postponement this year
The curse of the weather struck the Edinburgh Monarchs once again as their derby clash with Glasgow Tigers on Friday night was postponed due to rain.
It came just a week after team manager John Campbell admitted the club’s attendances have been hit after they suffered their fifth home postponement of the campaign.
A heavy downpour in the early afternoon meant the track was still too wet and the decision to postpone the fixture was made at 5pm, two- and- a- half hours before the scheduled race time.
Despite the skies clearing, it proved to be the correct decision as the track was still too wet come start time.
Club chairman Alex Harkess admitted: “We are bitterly disappointed to lose our biggest fixture of the season to the weather.
“To lose two consecutive fixtures to the weather in the height of summer is incredibly disappointing and to stage only one team match in the month of June is unbelievable.
“The financial cost to the club has been hefty and I hope that our supporters will get right behind us as we try to build some momentum in the weeks ahead.”
No new date has been fixed for the restaging of the Glasgow clash and the previous week’s rain-out against Plymouth Devils.
The club will be hoping tomorrow’s ( Friday) clash at the Armadale Stadium against Berwick Bandits takes place.
The Border outfit are the only visiting team to have won at Armdale this season, when they pinched a narrow 46-44 victory in the opening fixture.
The Bandits have been in great form of late, unlike the inconsistent Monarchs. Berwick have lost just once in their last six Premier League fixtures and are coming off resounding home victories against Ipswich Witches and Workington Comets.
Former Monarch riders Theo Pijper and Matthew Wethers line up alongside Kevin Doolan and Thomas Jorgensen in a solidlooking team. They also include recent Austrian signing Daniel Gappmaier at reserve.
The home side will be at full strength and are in desperate need of points as they look to climb up the table.
Edinburgh currently sit in 10th place, four spots outside the playoffs, but have been hit particularly strongly by the weather as they have raced just eight matches.
Ticket prices have been reduced for Friday’s home clash against the Berwick Bandits.
Tickets are now priced at £10 for adults, £8 for seniors and students and £1 for children aged between 12 and 18. Children under 12 will be admitted for free but this offer is only available for bookings made through the club’s website.
The line-ups for Friday night’s meeting are:
EDINBURGH MONARCHS: Sam Masters, Mark Riss, Erik Riss, Ryan Fisher, Kevin Wolbert, Max Clegg, Dan Bewley.
BERWICK BANDITS: Kevin Doolan, rider replacement for Seb Alden, Theo Pijper, Matthew Wethers, Thomas Jorgensen, Daniel Gappmaier, Liam Carr.