Edinburgh Monarchs reserve James Sarjeant desperate to end year with silverware after injury struggles

Edinburgh Monarchs reserve James Sarjeant says he is determined to end the 2022 season on a high after a frustrating year on and off the shale.

The 28-year-old spent five weeks on the sidelines after sustaining a shoulder injury due to a collision with team-mate Jacob Hook in May.

And even though he has been back on the bike since the beginning of July, Sarjeant admits he has struggled to recapture his early-season momentum.

"I've not been happy with how I've been going lately," he told the Evening News. "Prior to the injury I felt pretty smooth and confident and I was scoring some decent points. But I just don't feel as good as I did before. It's not an excuse, but I hardly race compare to the other lads in the team so it's hard to keep fit. These problems would probably work themselves out if I was riding more. I'm having a week or two off the bike. I know what I'm capable off and I just want to contribute now we're at the business end of the season. Getting to cup finals and the play-offs is what it's all about."

James Sarjeant feels he has struggled for form since injuring his shoulder in May. Picture: Jack Cupido.

The Monarchs travel to Teesside tonight aiming to confirm their place in this season's KO Cup final.

The Capital outfit, who fell at the final hurdle to the Poole Pirates in last year's competition, hold a slender four-point lead over hosts the Redcar Bears after a 47-43 victory at Armadale a fortnight ago.

The visitors will have to better the 45-39 defeat encountered on their previous trip to the ECCO Arena in May if they are to set up a final showdown against either Poole, the Leicester Lions or Scunthorpe Scorpions.

Meanwhile, the Monarchs and Bears will go head-to-head once more in the Championship play-off quarter-finals, with the Scottish side hosting the first leg in West Lothian next Friday before the return fixture on Sunday, September 11. The sides met at the same stage 12 months ago with the Monarchs progressing before bowing out to arch-rivals the Glasgow Tigers. Poole face the Plymouth Gladiators in the remaining quarter-final tie with Leicester and Glasgow awaiting the winners in the semi-finals.