Powerful Colts will be hard to handle

NEWS Wednesday 24th August 2022, 4:53pm

by Mike Hunter

The Armadale Stellar Devils gained their first victory of the season in their last home match, and followed that with a runners-up place in the NDL Pairs last weekend, so they are hungry for more success. Their opponents on Friday night at Armadale, though, are the very strong Belle Vue Colts side who lie third in the League table and are strongly fancied for success in the Playoffs.

The visitors are all teenagers other than 24-year old Captain Jack Smith, and their team contains several riders who have had spells in the Championship, though only Nathan Ablitt is currently riding there (for Poole). It will be a return to Armadale for reserve Archie Freeman who rode for the Devils towards the end of last season.

The Devils will be at full strength though there is a change in riding order as Tom Woolley is up to number one with the highest average.

Reflecting on the Devils' earlier visit to the National Speedway Stadium, captain Woolley said "No one in the team enjoyed what happened at Belle Vue when we got well beaten and we want to make sure there is no repeat of that ever again. Obviously, they are a good side and we will need to be at our sharpest especially out of the gate but I think we are as strong as we have been all year now.

"You can see Lee (Complin) has added firepower at the top end and Elliott (Kelly) is getting better by the match. If he rides like he did last Saturday in the Pairs then he will have a really good match as he was excellent all night in that one. So, while it won't be easy we certainly are going for the win."

Friday's match will be Live Streamed. Details on www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk

TEAMS FOR FRIDAY'S MATCH:

Friday 26th August: Armadale Devils v Belle Vue Colts (National Development League), Armadale, 7:30pm

STELLAR DEVILS: Tom Woolley (capt.), Josh Embleton, Danny Phillips, Elliot Kelly, Lee Complin, Gregor Millar, Kyran Lyden

COOL RUNNING COLTS: Jake Mulford, Nathan Ablitt, Harry McGurk, Sam McGurk, Jack Smith (capt.), Archie Freeman, Freddy Hodder.

(Match followed by Northern Junior League West Lothian Wildcats v Teesside)