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Fighting point for the Monarchs - back up to 6th place on our own in the +/- table. Good performance from Jordan Jenkins as guest.

For Edinburgh Drew Kemp back from helping GB to 3rd place in World U21 Team Final. Jordan Jenkins replaces Nathan Greaves - good choice I think. From Leicester website: LEICESTER can effectively secure their place in the Championship play-offs with a win at home to Edinburgh on Saturday (7pm).The Watling JCB Lions were rained-off at Redcar on Friday and dropped to fifth in the table as a result of Scunthorpe defeating leaders Poole in their final regular fixture to move onto 33 points.That is the mark the Lions will also reach if they beat the Monarchs at the Paul Chapman & Sons Arena, and having already moved out of reach of Berwick, Plymouth and Newcastle, their race-points difference advantage is such that 33 points would almost certainly be enough to finish above both Scunthorpe and Kent, neither of whom can exceed that total.The main job on Saturday is to get the better of an Edinburgh side who have had an up and down spell but appear some way stronger than in recent weeks.A strong heat-leader trio incudes former Lions star Richie Worrall, who returned from injury with a 14-point haul in Friday’s KO Cup win over Birmingham, and track specialist Sam Masters - and the lower order has recently been strengthened by the signings of Anders Rowe and Drew Kemp.The visitors bring in Jordan Jenkins to guest at reserve with Nathan Greaves having recently retired.For the Lions, Nick Morris lines up in the No.1 race-jacket with Hans Andersen reverting to No.5, with Ryan Douglas and Kyle Howarth teaming up in the middle order.And boss Stewart Dickson expects a tough test despite his side’s impressive recent form – being mindful of the fact that the Monarchs proved to be one of the best visitors to Leicester in 2019 when they raced into an early six-point lead before the Lions roared back to win 47-42.Dickson said: “We’re now up to +6 in terms of away points gained over home points lost, which makes things look a lot more comfortable, but I’m never fully satisfied, and we do want more points away!“At the moment I’m not looking beyond Saturday because this is going to be a hard one. Masters, Worrall and (Josh) Pickering is a great top three, and I expect a very tough encounter.“But the way we’re racing, we’ve upped our game in the last three or four weeks, and if we ride to what we can then it’s another meeting we should win.”LEICESTER: Nick Morris, Dan Thompson, Ryan Douglas, Kyle Howarth, Hans Andersen, Joe Thompson, Zaine Kennedy.EDINBURGH: Sam Masters, Anders Rowe, Kye Thomson, Josh Pickering, Richie Worrall, Drew Kemp, Jordan Jenkins.

Welcome back Richie Worrall! Straight back into it with a fantastic inside pass on Erik Riss in heat 4 and only missing out on the full 15 in heat 15 when beaten by a fast start and ride from Chris Harris, who was fast all night and the pick of the Brummies. The standard of racing was far better tonight too, with the second strings and reserves of both sides having great tussles for the minor places. Anders Rowe showed steady improvement on the previous week and probably deserved a few more points and Kyle Bickley was a good guest. For the Brummies, James Shanes was much improved and provided plenty of entertainment as did Jason Edwards picking up paid 8 at reserve.

Richie back and Kye fit for Monarchs but last week's hero Drew Kemp away at World Under-21 Team Final. Both sides weaker at reserve compared to last week as Paco Castagna and Jack Thomas also not available - and they scored 18+5 between them last week. From Monarchs website: This week it is Knockout Cup action at Armadale, the quarter final tie between the What the Fork Monarchs and the Birmingham Brummies. The teams qualified for this stage by beating Newcastle and Redcar respectively in the previous round, and the winners will meet Glasgow in the semi-final. This tie was started at the end of July but Birmingham's visit that night was abandoned with Monarchs leading 26-16, and we start from scratch again this week. Of course the teams drew in a league match last Friday, Monarchs being without both Richie Worrall and Kye Thomson by the end of the match. The good news is that both will be ready to ride this Friday as Monarchs field their full-strength 1-5. Both teams are using guests in the reserve berths; for Monarchs, Drew Kemp (double figures last week) is missing because he is riding in the World Under-21 Team Final in Poland, and Nathan Greaves of course hit us with his untimely retirement on the eve of last Friday's event. Deputising for Monarchs will be Danny Phillips of the Armadale Devils, and Berwick's Kyle Bickley. Birmingham's reserves will be Luke Crang and Jason Edwards and they will again use rider replacement for injured German Valentin Grobauer. Once again Chris Harris and Erik Riss are sure to be to the fore, and Ashley Morris will be trying to repeat last week's good performance. Team manager Alex Harkess says "Tonight it is certainly the aim to get a good lead to make the second leg easier. The unfortunate thing is that Drew will not be riding due to the Under-21 Team Championship. What a difference he would make if he was here." There are 3 vital away matches over the following 5 days in the race for Playoff places. Drew Kemp will be back for these, and realistically Monarchs may need to win two of the matches which are Leicester (Saturday), Newcastle (Sunday) and Birmingham (Wednesday). As with all Armadale matches this season Friday's match will be Live Streamed, however the stream will be available only to those outwith a 25 mile radius of the track. Anyone within that limit but unable to attend should email info@edinburghmonarchs.co.uk WHAT THE FORK MONARCHS: Sam Masters (capt.), Anders Rowe, Kye Thomson, Josh Pickering, Richie Worrall, Danny Phillips, Kyle Bickley. EDWARDS PLUMBING BRUMMIES: Chris Harris (capt.), rider replacement for Valentin Grobauer, James Shanes, Ashley Morris, Erik Riss, Luke Crang, Jason Edwards.

I took advantage of Glasgow not riding at home on a Friday to watch this one on the live stream as it's always a pleasure watching Cookie around Ashfield. Excellent meeting with lots of good heats and plenty of passing - heats 11 and 13 being the standouts. All the Glasgow team rode well and Broc Nicol deserved a lot more points than he got. Got to feel sorry for Jack Thomas in heat 11 - he rode brilliantly to pass Adam Ellis only to have Simon Lambert pass him as the 3 riders went down the back straight side by side, Ellis then got back past him before his team-mate Ricky Wells also went by and amazingly snatched second on the line. A lot of effort and skill from Jack for no points. For Scunthorpe Adam Ellis was a little disappointing but they were well served by Jorgensen and Lambert and the others were all involved in good tussles for the minor places. The stream also showed new Pole, Marcin Nowak, go out for a few practice laps after the meeting and he looked fast and stylish. I predict he'll be an exciting addition to the team and the re-modelled Tigers will be back challenging for the title. Just hope the re-modelled Monarchs can get themselves together quickly enough to join them in the play-offs.

A strange old night with Monarchs in the end fortunate but probably relieved to get a draw. 9 times out of 10 heat 15 is an all 4 back. But they did show great fighting spirit to get back into the match after the disastrous heat 9. Bright spot was Drew Kemp coming onto a good performance in the second half of the meeting with fast starts and stylish riding. Looks to be the answer to Edinburgh's season long Rising Star problem. Downside was, for the second week in a row, generally ftg well spread out and processional racing. The track looked to be (watching on the stream) 'loose grippy'. I always think the racing is better and closer when it's a bit slicker than that. Monarchs now down to 7th in the +/- table and unlikely to feature in the play-offs unless the can pick up a win at Birmingham and probably something at Newcastle too. And for the conspiracy theorists who've suggested Rowe and Kemp don't get on, the pits camera on the Live Stream showed them happily chatting together after heat 14.

Good luck to our teenage debutants tonight and young Archie. Looks like it should be a good close match. Always happy to watch Chris and Erik round the Dale and it will be interesting to see if Jack Thomas continues with recent improved form. Much will depend on the Brummies middle pairing but Edinburgh really need to stop Birmingham getting even one point.

Yes, it must be so but presumably only if their actual average is less than 3.96 - so not Leon Flint for example.

As far as I understand, yes. Unless there can be some sort of dispensation 'in the interests of speedway'.

Had a quick look through the regulations and can't see anything specifically related to a rider who retires after the cut-off date. You can have a guest facility for a retired rider for 28 days which can be rolled over if you can show why you haven't been able to bring in a replacement. So it looks like guests up to Nathan's current average of 3.96 unless there is some special dispensation. William Lawson would fit average-wise but I don't think you can guest if not in a declared 1-7.

Now on Monarchs website - Nathan Greaves retires!

According to SpeedwayGB website Nathan is not available and replaced by Archie Freeman. No reason given and I can't see anything on Monarchs website yet.

There are updates here: https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/sport/witches-panthers-live-8287022

Now a very important meeting for Monarchs as their top 6 spot now under threat. R/R for Richie again is not ideal and much will depend on the 2 new riders. Drew Kemp will be looking for a big improvement on last week and Anders Rowe will hope to repeat or better his performance from earlier in the season for Redcar. From Monarchs website: The What the Fork Monarchs have a very important match this Friday against Birmingham as several teams battle for Playoff places. The Monarchs and the Brummies are both in contention and want the points. Things have not been going Monarchs' way recently, especially with the continuing absence of Richie Worrall following his crash on 13th August in which he suffered a cracked finger. It had been organised that Richard Lawson would guest this week but on Thursday he pulled out for reasons that the club accept. So it will be rider replacement once again with the lack of other suitable guests. Birmingham also use rider replacement for Valentin Grobauer who is again missing, as he was on their recent abandoned KO Cup visit. Monarchs of course track their two new signings, 19 year olds Anders Rowe and Drew Kemp, who are expected to strengthen the bottom end of the team, though it is reasonable to suppose they will need time to find their feet in new surroundings. Kemp commented "I felt I learnt a lot riding Armadale as a guest last week and it's a track that I can definitely improve on. It's good to go to a team which could win something this year and I hope I can add something to the team." Brummies' top two of Erik Riss (former Monarchs captain) and Chris Harris need no introduction, and they have a solid batch of backup riders. Team manager Alex Harkess says "If we get a good contribution from everyone we will be fine. I want a good win, we were winning comfortably when Birmingham were here in the cup and I think we were on our way to a big win." As with all Armadale matches this season Friday's match will be Live Streamed, however the stream will be available only to those outwith a 25 mile radius of the track. Anyone within that limit but unable to attend should email info@edinburghmonarchs.co.uk WHAT THE FORK MONARCHS: Sam Masters (capt.), Anders Rowe, Kye Thomson, Josh Pickering, Rider replacement for Richie Worrall, Drew Kemp, Nathan Greaves. EDWARDS PLUMBING BRUMMIES: Chris Harris (capt.), rider replacement for Valentin Grobauer, James Shanes, Ashley Morris, Erik Riss, Paco Castagna, Jack Thomas.

Edinburgh built their original team to within 38 points so can have a Rising Star up to 3*. That remains the case unless they re-declare their team (which they haven't). So they can still have up to a 3* Rising Star, which is why Drew Kemp has been able to guest as Rising Star twice so far this season for Edinburgh (for a 2* RS) and why he can replace Luke Crang now.

Anders Rowe in for William Lawson. Anders Rowe joins the Monarchs | News Centre | Edinburgh Monarchs Speedway | Official Club Website

Well done to Poole on a thoroughly professional job. All 7 riders had a win or paid win. Danyon Hume very impressive, Ben Cook only slightly less so and Benjamin Basso, after taking a couple of rides to size up the place, took a very impressive win in heat 11. Even Stefan Nielsen, who's never ridden well at Armadale, finished with a paid win after Josh fell trying to recover from another poor start. For Edinburgh the top 3 did pretty much as expected against strong opposition but Richie Worrall was sorely missed. The bottom 3 were dire. Unlike his debutant opponents Drew Kemp never got to grips with the track, and Nathan and William seem to be getting slower and slower with each passing week. On top of that it wasn't a particularly exciting meeting and the racing was the poorest it's been for a while. And as a regular user of the Live Stream this season, it wasn't up to its usual high standard with a technical glitch causing me to miss half of heat 8, which looked like the only half-decent race of the night. And the recent welcome innovations of 1) a view of the pits and 2) replays of each heat, were not in evidence tonight. Edinburgh need to write this off as a bad day at the office and re-group for the remainder of the season.

Richie is very strong round Armadale. As are Sam and Josh, so 2 races covered. Kye's been a major success this season but still relatively new and liable to throw in a poorer ride now and again. William/Nathan on their current form won't cover the 4th ride. Plus there's no option to use Richie in heat 15, which he usually features in. Poole have a very strong top 3 - Rory and Stevie know Armadale like the back of their hand and Danny has ridden well there before and looks to be in top form - so should match our top 3, which is now a top 2 and a half. So I think it will come down to how well the rest of the Poole team take to the track. Pity there won't be as many Poole fans there as there would've been when you were on your northern tour but I hope you enjoy a close and exciting match on the excellent stream.

This swings things back in Poole's favour. Having just lost the 3 points gained at Eastbourne, if Monarchs lose another 3 tonight it could put a top 6 place in jeopardy. Hope Drew Kemp takes a very quick liking to the Armadale track.

Richie Worrall now pulled out again. Nick Morris guests.

Kemp has never ridden at Armadale before. He guested for Edinburgh at Berwick earlier in the season.

Richie back. Drew Kemp replaces injured Luke Crang. Weather looks good. Should be a cracking meeting. From Monarchs website: Poole's proposed visit to Armadale earlier in the month was postponed, but this Friday we will have the big showdown with the Pirates in excellent form hoping to extend their lead at the top of the table. They have a team with very few weaknesses – highly experienced heat leaders in Rory Schlein, Danny King and Stevie Worrall plus talented backup men. These now include the young Dane Benjamin Basso who is rated very highly and made a good start on his debut last weekend. It will be Poole's first ever visit to the West Lothian circuit. The What the Fork Monarchs will be pleased to welcome back Richie Worrall who missed last Friday's match. The original assessment of two broken fingers was downgraded to one cracked finger and he reports that he has no problems gripping things, advancing his return to the track. Monarchs had put Nick Morris on standby as a guest had this been required. They do have to replace reserve Luke Crang who damaged his knee during last Friday's match (in which he gained 5 points). He has been ruled out and Drew Kemp will stand in, making his Armadale debut. It is the last scheduled visit for Rory Schlein who arrived in the UK twenty years ago and plans a Farewell meeting in October. He spent his first four formative seasons with the Monarchs. (It is possible of course that the clubs could meet again in either the Knockout Cup or the Championship Playoffs). He would also be first on the list should there be space in the Armadale fixture list for a Scottish Open Championship this season – Rory has won it four times and has a burning ambition to make it five! Amongst the results that have taken them to the top, Poole managed to win at Leicester, and scored no less than 61 at Newcastle. Team manager Alex Harkess has expressed some disappointment with recent Monarchs' displays at home and is looking for better. "Amongst the Pirates, Rory and Steve Worrall are riders who we always associate with our club since they did so much when they were here. I welcome them and their team mates, but exactly as with Scott Nicholls last week, it's a warm welcome but I hope you don't have too good a night! I'd like to believe that for once we will do what we should be doing at home." As with all Armadale matches this season Friday's match will be Live Streamed, however the stream will be available only to those outwith a 25 mile radius of the track. Anyone within that limit but unable to attend should email info@edinburghmonarchs.co.uk WHAT THE FORK MONARCHS: Sam Masters (capt.), William Lawson, Kye Thomson, Josh Pickering, Richie Worrall, Drew Kemp (guest), Nathan Greaves. PIRATES: Rory Schlein, Benjamin Basso, Stevie Worrall, Stefan Neilsen, Danny King (capt.), Ben Cook, Danyon Hume.

Friday Focus review of the match including the fantastic heat 6 pass by Scott Nicholls here: Friday Focus: Monarchs v Kent | EMTV | Edinburgh Monarchs Speedway | Official Club Website

Well done to Kent on an excellent performance tonight. They really should've had at least 3 points. 10 heat winners in a row from heat 4 to heat 13 is unprecedented for an away team at Armadale. After a poor night the home side showed some grit and determination over the last 3 heats to grab an unlikely draw. Kye Thomson has been a major success this season, but he's been creeping/rolling at the start for a good few weeks now. He needs to cut that out - he's shown he doesn't need to do it to win races. William Lawson really only contributed one third place ahead of Ben Morley in 4 races. The track wasn't great tonight - obviously prepared for potential rain - but there was still several good races. Scotty Nicholls pass on Sam Masters in Heat 6 was sublime. Great to see Cameron Heeps back to form. He always rode Armadale well. And good to see Luke Crang pick up his first Championship points.

Richie still above Josh (8.47 to 8.4) so everyone can take one of Richie's rides. But one will still have to be taken by William or Nathan (or Luke).