Sedgmen: ‘don’t count us out in KO Cup return’

Justin Sedgmen believes the key to Stellar Monarchs edging Poole Pirates in the Cab Direct Knockout Cup at Armadale on Friday (tapes-up 7.30pm) could be the form of Kye Thomson and skipper Paco Castagna.

Monarchs have a nine-point deficit to make up in this quarter-final, second leg, having lost 49-40 at Poole and the Dorset club have a strong top four.

Ex-Glasgow Tigers star Richard Lawson, Tom Brennan, plus Ben and Zach Cook are threats along with Reserve Sam Hagon who won this week’s British Under-21 semi-final at Plymouth with a maximum.

Dane Tobias Thomsen and Stellar Monarchs Academy heat leader Max Perry make up their side but the Armadale septet opened their home season with a solid win against Berwick Jewson Bandits last Friday.

Heat leader Sedgmen (pictured in the pits with his mechanic Cammy) was in fine form on his return to Armadale last week and he declared: “The Poole side and the Berwick side, on paper, are pretty similar.

“They (Poole) have good heat leaders and reserves so the key matchup might be in the middle and if Kye and Paco do like they did last week and can outscore Zach Cook and Tom Brennan then we have a real good chance of getting through.”

Friday’s match will be live streamed and details are on www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk.

STELLAR MONARCHS: Josh Pickering, Lasse Fredriksen, Kye Thomson, Paco Castagna (captain), Justin Sedgmen, Max James, Connor Coles.

WESSEX MARINE PIRATES: Richard Lawson (captain), Tobias Thomsen, Tom Brennan, Zach Cook, Ben Cook, Sam Hagon, Max Perry.

A Northern Junior League fixture between local sides Armadale Angels and West Lothian Wildcats follows the main event.

POWER ON: Bend three action during Monarchs v Bandits. Picture by Nigel Duncan

ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN: Bandits losing control during the match with Monarchs at Armadale. Picture Nigel Duncan

A REAL DOWNER: Bandit in trouble against Monarchs as he hits the deck. Picture Nigel Duncan

FALL GUY: A Monarchs rider hits the shale against Berwick. Picture Nigel Duncan

POWER ON: One Berwick rider against two from Monarchs. Picture Nigel Duncan