TREMENDOUSLY TOUGH TIGERS FOR FINALE

NEWS Tuesday 18th October 2011, 7:53pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs race their final Armadale meeting of the season on Friday against the new league champions Glasgow ? and the Tigers are even stronger than usual!

They are missing two of their own riders (Joe Screen and Michal Rajkowski) but compensate ? more than ? by including their former star Shane Parker right at the end of his UK career, and with a strong rider replacement for the Raj. Monarchs would love to bow out of a disappointing season with a good home performance, but they would have to be at their absolute best to take much of a lead through to Ashfield.

TEAMS FOR THE SCOTTISH CUP MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 21ST October (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Kevin Wolbert, Kalle Katajisto, Andrew Tully, Matthew Wethers (capt.), Craig Cook, Tom Perry, Kyle Howarth.

GLASGOW TIGERS: Shane Parker (guest), rider replacement for Michal Rajkowski, Nick Morris, Richard Sweetman, James Grieves (capt.), David Bellego, Theo Pijper.

SCOTTISH CUP: Monarchs have had very much the upper hand in the Scottish Cup during the Armadale era, having won the last five contests and 12 out of the last 13!

Glasgow's only recent win was in 2005, and the overall standings show Monarchs 23 wins, Tigers 14 wins since the competition began in 1951.

However Glasgow have won 6 of the 8 matches the teams have raced already in 2011 and can be rated as strong favourites this time round.

The two matches will take the total number of Scottish derbies for the season to 10, the highest ever in a single season.

PARKER FAREWELL: Glasgow have called in Shane Parker to guest for Joe Screen over the weekend ? which won't damage their prospects at all. Screen has the higher average, but in his last three matches at Armadale he has scored 4,7 and 5.

Parker on the other hand has had two 12-point returns for Sheffield on a track he has always loved. Parker retires from UK Speedway at the end of the month.

What is more the rider replacement facility for Michal Rajkowski, sometimes a weak link, gives rides to Nick Morris plus potentially three for former Monarchs' captain Theo Pijper!

KEVIN, CRAIG IN BIG DATE: As well as the Scottish Cup, the Elite League KO Cup Final between Poole and Belle Vue takes place this week (Wednesday and Thursday)

This should mean that Kevin Wolbert (Poole) and Craig Cook (Belle Vue) will be facing up to each other in the quest for a winners' medal before heading north.

HOSPITALITY: It is hoped to invite a number of local businessmen to have a look at the sport and the facilities we have to offer at Armadale for our final match of the season.

WORTHY CHAMPIONS: Glasgow have won the Premier League easily, in fact to most it was pretty obvious months ago that they were on their way to the title (though it never feels that way when it is your team leading the way).

They have been a team without any weak links. The sensational rise of Nick Morris, at reserve for much of the year, has had much to do with their success, but there have been regular solid performances from top men Joe Screen and James Grieves, calling on all their experience.

Theo Pijper has replaced Morris at reserve and piled up regular big scores in recent weeks.

Richard Sweetman (who replaced the injured Josh Grajczonek in June) and Michal Rajkowski have also justified their inclusion, and in a season where very little has gone wrong for them, French rider David Bellego has proved to be another exciting acquisition.

LAST MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs stumbled to a 44-45 defeat by Newport on Friday 7th, in spite of having held a 12-point lead at one point. Andrew Tully (11) was top scorer.

REMAINING FIXTURES: That's it for 2011 at Armadale, but Monarchs still have four away fixtures. They race at Glasgow on Sunday at 4pm in the Scottish Cup second leg, then next weekend Monarchs have three Premier League fixtures ? Plymouth (Friday 28th, 7:30pm), Newport (Saturday 29th, 6pm), Workington (Sunday 30th, 3pm).