Edinburgh Monarchs v Glasgow Tigers

PREVIEW Friday 21st October 2011, 12:00pm

by Gordon Fraser

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The curtain comes down on the 2011 Armadale season giving Monarchs fans the last chance to see their heroes and their long time nemesis, Shane Parker, on their home shale when the immaculate Australian leads the Glasgow Tigers in the Scottish Cup first leg match tonight (7.30).

Shane has been a model professional who has added spice to many derby matches between the clubs over the years and is much admired by fans of both clubs. But the 41-year-old who has never managed to be part of a league winning side is retiring from the sport at the end of the season.

So Kevin Wolbert will have his hands full to contain a guest who has always enjoyed riding on Doc Bridgett's 'turf'. Kalle Katajisto should have faced the below par Michal Rajkowski at No.2 but the popular Polish rider is injured and his absence is covered by rider replacement.

Andrew Tully has piled up the points big-style at Armadale this year but the league's sensation, Nick Morris, has finally moved up from reserve to No.3 where he provides a formidable challenge to all-comers. You have to remind yourself that the lad from Canberra is only 17 and in his first full season of Premier League speedway.

There's a great match-up at No.4 too where Monarchs skipper Matty Wethers faces Richard Sweetman who signed for Tigers as a replacement for the unlucky Josh Grajczonek. Part of Coventry's Elite League Championship winning side in 2010, there is still a lot to come from the 21-year-old from New South Wales.

Craig Cook faces Glasgow captain James Grieves, who at 37 shows no sign of lowering the high standards he has set throughout his 20-year speedway career. James has won a long list of trophies with four different clubs, including Edinburgh, but mostly with Glasgow who gave him his first chance in 1991.

Edinburgh's inexperienced young pair of reserves, Tom Perry and Kyle Howarth face the unique challenge of two French riders. It seems remarkable that one of these is Monarchs' one-time captain, number one and former track record holder Theo Pijper who finds himself riding at No.7.

He is partnered by an 18-year-old long track rider, David Bellego, who was signed to replace Christian Henry. So little was known about this young rider that the BSPA site simply lists his birthplace as France, not his town of origin. By all accounts he is one to watch but what will he make of the tight Armadale track?

So while this may be the seventh meeting between the clubs this year, with a greatly-changed Glasgow line-up there's just as much interest and intrigue as ever in this fixture. Glasgow ran away with Edinburgh's Premier League title and, for the first time in a long time, start this one as favourites.

Can Glasgow finish off the year as Scotland's undisputed No.1 club or can Monarchs rise to the occasion and put on one last memorable show in front of their own fans before the side is broken up? After Glasgow's stunning defeat at the hands of Newport recently, anything's possible, so don't miss this one!

Likely line-ups:

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

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

Full Result Details