West Lothian Courier

Monarchs aiming to bounce back

- CALLUM CARSON

The Edinburgh Monarchs will be looking to get back to winning ways when they host Leicester in a SGB Championsh­ip clash.

The meeting takes place tomorrow night (Friday) at Armadale Stadium, with the hosts aiming to bounce back from a double Scottish derby defeat a fortnight ago.

Edinburgh were beaten 51-39 by Glasgow in their previous home fixture at the end of last month, before suffering defeat again two days later in the reverse fixture – albeit claiming a losing bonus point in the 46-44 loss.

A key to any victory will have to be a return to top form of captain Sam Masters, with the Aussie ace getting off to a slow start on his home track by his usual high standard.

The skipper has won just four of 11 races at Armadale this season.

The action gets underway from 7.30pm with live streaming also available. For further informatio­n visit the club’s website at www. edinburghm­onarchs.co.uk.

Edinburgh weren’t in action last weekend, but the National Developmen­t League’s Armadale Devils were and are still searching for their first win of the season following a 48-42 loss to the Oxford Chargers in a thrilling encounter.

Despite the defeat, there were some impressive performanc­es – most notably reserve riders Josh Embleton and Gregor Millar who scored 15+5 combined.

Millar’s older brother Lewis admitted the team fell just short in the crucial moments at the Armadale Stadium but believes the victories are just around the corner.

He said: “At one point we were really close to winning it, then we lost another 5-1 and it was out of our grasp again. Some of us are starting to score points again, and getting our confidence back. There’s definitely positives to take and this is what this whole thing is all about, bringing on the younger riders. We’re definitely getting there, it just takes time.”

It was a thrilling encounter and at various time it appeared neither side wanted to win.

The Armadale heat leaders weren’t at their best, though in the end Tom Woolley scored well enough with 12 points.

The younger Millar produced his best display to date, winning heat two and passing both visiting riders to help grab a 5-1 with William Lawson in heat seven.

But no Devils rider could answer the Oxford spearhead of Jordan Jenkins and Nathan Stoneman, who were both unbeaten on the night and ultimately proved to be the deciding factors in the contest.

The Devils are next in action on May 27 away at Belle Vue Colts.

 ?? ?? Fine display Gregor Millar’s brilliant performanc­e wasn’t quite enough for the Devils
Fine display Gregor Millar’s brilliant performanc­e wasn’t quite enough for the Devils
 ?? Monarchs ?? Looking to improve skipper Sam Masters
Monarchs Looking to improve skipper Sam Masters

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