Rebels 2010: (Back) Howarth, Hefenbrock, Masters, Gathercole. (Front) Hawkins, Parker, Holder. Image Credit: Phil Hilton

TOUGH DOUBLE CHALLENGE FROM SOMERSET

NEWS Tuesday 24th August 2010, 12:16pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs are looking for league points this week in home and away matches against Somerset Rebels who come to Armadale on Friday (7:30 start).

Monarchs head south on Wednesday for a difficult match against a much-improved team and would love to extend their lead at the top of the table. The Rebels bring ex-Glasgow star Shane Parker back to Armadale along with fellow countrymen Corey Gathercole and Sam Masters, plus German ex-Elite rider Christian Hefenbrock.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 27h AUGUST (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Ryan Fisher, Matthew Wethers, Kevin Wolbert, Kalle Katajisto, Andrew Tully, Arlo Bugeja, William Lawson.

SOMERSET REBELS: Corey Gathercole, Ritchie Hawkins, Sam Masters, Christian Hefenbrock, Shane Parker, James Holder, Kyle Howarth.

NO CUP DATES YET: Monarchs qualified for the KO Cup semi-final last weekend by knocking out King's Lynn, and will now face Workington in the semi-final.

The dates for these two matches have yet to be arranged.

PREMIER LEAGUE: Monarchs need 8 points from their remaining 6 matches to put themselves beyond the reach of leading rivals Newcastle. No-one else could catch them then, though there are few easy points.

Current position is ?

EDINBURGH (54 points) Home Somerset (27/8), Stoke (10/9). Away v Somerset (25/8), King's Lynn (1/9), Stoke (4/9) and Glasgow (5/9).

BIRMINGHAM (44 points) Home v King's Lynn (29/8), Newport (1/9). Away v King's Lynn (25/8), v Newcastle (tba).

NEWCASTLE (41 Points) Home v Glasgow (30/8), Berwick (12/9), v Birmingham and King's Lynn tba. Away v Glasgow (29/8), v King's Lynn tba.

KEVIN RIDES ON FRIDAY: Kevin Wolbert is the victim of an unfortunate fixture clash on Friday as his German team Gustrow have a Bundesliga match at home.

However Kevin will be at Armadale, honouring an earlier agreement after being released for one previous fixture.

John Campbell said ?Kevin was put under severe pressure to be in his home country but eventually, after I reminded them of the early season agreement it was agreed that Kevin should be here?.

MEETING SPONSOR: Sponsoring the visit of the Rebels on Friday are regular backers Keyline Broxburn.

REBELS ARE DANGEROUS: Somerset's recent displays mark them as one of the most improved teams of the season.

They have a trio of quality Australians led by former Glasgow legend Shane Parker, who has a superb Armadale record. First season rider Sam Masters is probably this year's top newcomer, and hard-riding Corey Gathercole has also done well here in the past.

Their recent signing Christian Hefenbrock has extensive Elite League experience with Wolverhampton and Coventry so is sure to be handy.

Monarchs' fans will recall Kyle Howarth who won a Monarch of the Match award standing in at reserve in the KO Cup tie with rye House at Armadale.

LAST MEETING: Monarchs beat King's Lynn 58-31 in the second leg of the KO Cup quarter final, going through by a remarkable 114-65 on aggregate. Top scorer on the night was Kevin Wolbert with 14.

NEXT MEETING: The Armadale meeting on Friday 3rd September will be announced as soon as possible.