Rathbone: Let’s grab an away win!
Middlesbrough Tigers starlet, Ben Rathbone has urged his side to “get the job done” and pick up the “Heat Floors” Tigers first away win of the season when Middlesbrough travel north this evening to take on the Edinburgh Monarchs Academy with tapes up at 7:30 at Armadale Stadium.
Rathbone, who achieved a lifelong dream by representing the Tigers said, “ We have faced some good teams away from home and on the whole I think we have performed well. We haven’t had much luck away from home but you can make your own luck! Tonight is a really good opportunity to get our first away win of 2024.”
Personally, Rathbone believes tonight will be a valuable learning experience, “ I have not done many laps around Edinburgh so it will be good to get another meeting under my belt around Armadale.”
Rathbone, who hit a stunning 9 points from reserve against Sheffield, is hoping to continue scoring big points, “ I’m hoping to keep scoring good points so I can move up from reserve and into the main body. I think I could have done even better if I hadn’t made a couple of silly mistakes so I’m hoping to learn from them and improve on them this weekend, starting tonight.”
The local lad reserved special praise for Middlesbrough’s Jake Mulford, with Rathbone happy with the help he’s received from the Bears reserve, “ Jake is a little bit younger than me but I have a really good relationship with him, we spend a lot of time talking about set-ups which has been helpful. The knowledge he is gaining from the likes of Charles Wright and Danny King filters down into the Tigers team which can only be a good thing for me and the rest of the boys.”
Rathbone, who grew up watching speedway on Teesside, has been happy with the support the side has received from the fans, “ The level of support we have received has been superb! Sometimes people can be cynical about 3rd tier racing but as we have shown the fans, the racing can be just as good!”
The Tigers are forced into a change to their 1-7 due to their number 5, Ben Trigger, away racing in Poland. The Tigers promotion have drafted in ex Edinburgh man, Matt Marson to guest. The Tigers skipper, Danny Phillips, who rode 29 meetings as a home rider for Edinburgh across 2022 and 2023 will be looking to lead his side to victory against his former employers.
Middlesbrough will be looking to take advantage of the fact that the Monarchs Academy side have not rode on home shale for almost three months! The Academy are led by their skipper, Connor Coles at number 1 whilst the Academy track Middlesbrough based Kyran Lyden at number 6.
Any supporters who are unable to attend the fixture are reminded that the match will be live streamed @ www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk/em
Edinburgh Stellar Monarchs Academy
1. Connor Coles 6.67 (C)
2. Mason Watson 4.50
3. Sam McGurk 6.08
4. Dayle Wood 5.56
5. Max Perry 6.40
6. Mark Parker 3.00
7. Kyran Lyden 3.24
TM Scott Wilson
Middlesbrough Heat Floors Tigers
1. Jake Mulford 8.42
2. Kai Ward 4.67
3. Danny Phillips 5.71 (C)
4. Jamie Halder 5.71
5. Matt Marson (G) 8.16
6. Ben Rathbone 3.37
7. William Hocaniuk 3.00
TM Stuart Swales