Speedway – Harkess calls for an action replay

Alex Harkess (left) and fellow director Ian Sneddon chat in the pits. Andrew Tully is on the far right. Picture by Nigel Duncan Media

Edinburgh Monarchs chairman Alex Harkess has called for a repeat as they open their SGB Championship semi-final at Ipswich Witches on Thursday.

The Scots pipped the Suffolk side 47-46 in a SGB Championship clash on July 27 and Monarchs edged Ipswich 48-44 in the same competition earlier this month at Armadale.

Revenge is also on the agenda as Ipswich emptied Edinburgh out of the competition last season.

Harkess said: “When you get to this stage of the competition there are no easy matches, but we are the only team to have defeated the Witches at their home this year and we just managed to squeeze a win against them at home.”

Meanwhile, Witches captain Danny King has issued a rallying cry to his teammates.

King has been with the Witches for nine seasons during his career and admits winning a trophy would be a special moment for him.

He said: “Ipswich is a club close to my heart and we might not ever be in the position we are now ever again, so we need to step up, take it and make it ours.”

Two former Monarchs are in their squad, Rory Schlein and Justin Sedgmen.

And King said: “We need to leave nothing out there. Everyone has got to give everything.”

The 31-year-old added: “It would be nice to get a big win on Thursday to go to Edinburgh (on Friday) with but I believe we can win there too.”