SCOTTISH CUP CLASH ENDS SEASON

NEWS Tuesday 26th September 2006, 10:00am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs have their last chance of taking some silverware from the 2006 season in the Scottish Cup against Glasgow Tigers.

The first leg is at Armadale on Friday (start time 7.30pm). Monarchs will be without Matthew Wethers who was injured last Friday but it seems that both Theo Pijper and Henrik Moller will be fit to ride. The date of the second leg at Ashfield has not been set yet.

INJURIES

A trio of injury scares has disrupted the end of the season, though it seems only Matthew Wethers is ruled out of Friday's match.

Matthew has damaged ligaments in his thumb and is probably ruled out of any further racing this season. The injury came in heat 3 of last Friday's match against Workington.

Henrik Moller crashed heavily riding for his Polish team KM Ostrow against Zielona Gora in a vital Polish Division One match at the weekend. He stopped while leading heat 1 and the following riders crashed into him.

Initially collar bone, leg and pelvis injuries were suspected but although battered and bruised, Henrik appears to be OK and will be riding on Friday.

The third scare concerned captain Theo Pijper who had to miss the important last heat decider last week after injuring his wrist during his fourth ride. However he was fit for weekend grasstrack action and is ready for the fray on Friday.

WILLIAM IN THE PLRC

William Lawson eventually represented the Scotwaste Monarchs in last Sunday's Premier League Riders' Championship ? a big honour for the young Scot who has made great progress in two years at Armadale.

Unlucky Theo Pijper had to miss out on the orders of the French Federation, staying in France when the European Grasstrack championship was postponed for 24 hours.

With only 8 hours notice, the 19 year old Scot did not have time to prepare suitable machinery but still scored a couple of points in a spirited display.

SPONSOR ON FRIDAY

Friday's match against the Tigers is jointly sponsored by Headlam Floorcoverings (North Lanarkshire) and Forbo Flooring (Kirkcaldy).

TEAMS FOR THE SCOTTISH CUP MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 29th SEPTEMBER (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

EDINBURGH SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Theo Pijper (capt.), Henrik Moller, Daniele Tessari, guest or rider replacement for Matthew Wethers, William Lawson, Sean Stoddart, Derek Sneddon.

GLASGOW PREMIER TRAVEL INN TIGERS: Danny Bird, David McAllan, Lee Dicken, Kauko Nieminen, Shane Parker (capt.), Robert Ksiezak, James Cockle.

GOOD YEAR FOR TIGERS: Glasgow have had their best season since moving to Ashfield in 1999, and are still in the Premier Playoffs which will decide this season's league title.

Nevertheless they will be keen to add the Scottish Cup to the Spring Trophy they won from Edinburgh in May. If they take the Cup it will be their fourth aggregate win over Edinburgh this season, though the previous three encounters have all been close.

The pairs of matches have tended to come down to the later heats at Ashfield, with top two Shane Parker and Danny Bird generally settling things.

Theo Pijper's current form suggests he can give them a run for their money, certainly at Armadale. However Tigers also have in-form Finn Kauko Nieminen in their lineup after a great year for him, and reserve Robert Ksiezak displayed good form guesting for Workington at Armadale last Friday.

David McAllan also knows Armadale well and could be a threat.

LAST WEEK'S MEETING: Monarchs lost their final home Premier League match 44-46 to Workington. They were very unlucky to lose after Matthew Wethers suffered an early injury, and Theo Pijper was unable to contest the last heat decider. William Lawson's bike packed up in that final race to complete the ill fortune.

THE FINAL MEETING: Friday's match brings the curtain down for speedway at Armadale this summer. This is the final regular press release though there will be news items issued during the winter.