Monarchs set for Somerset clash after late call-off

The Edinburgh Border Roofing Monarchs will take on Premier League leaders Somerset Rebels at Armadale Stadium on Friday night (7.30pm).

The Monarchs still have three matches to race before the play-offs are set to begin on September 23 thanks to a truly awful year with the weather.

Last week’s clash against the Glasgow Tigers was the ninth home fixture that had to be postponed this season and it has led to a congested schedule towards the end of the regular season.

The Monarchs go into the clash against Somerset sitting fourth in the Premier League table, six points ahead of seventhplaced Peterborough Panthers. Edinburgh need to claim a top-six spot if they are to qualify for the play-offs as they look to win the Premier League play-off title for a third consecutive year.

Following the Glasgow postponement, club chairman Alex Harkess commented: “In a season of bitter weather blows, this is perhaps the biggest.

“It’s our biggest match of the season but also vital to our play-off chances.”

Supporters who purchased advance online tickets for the clash are able to use them for any other home match.

Meanwhile, captain Sam Masters finished second in the Premier League Riders’ Championship in Sheffield, with home rider Simon Stead taking the title.

Aussie Masters scored 11 points from his five heat races, including three victories, to finish in fourth place in the qualifying heats. He then followed that up with a second behind David Bellego in the semi-final to book his berth in the final showdown alongside Bellego, Stead and Richard Lawson.

And Masters took control of the final as he got off to a fast start and led the way before Stead’s greater track knowledge paid dividends as he took the title for the second time.