CHALLENGE FROM LIONS' SCANDIC SPEARHEAD

NEWS Wednesday 16th May 2012, 4:20pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs couldn't start their home Premier League programme last weekend due to the weather so attention turns to the visit of Leicester Lions to Armadale this Friday.

No-one will need reminding that the Lions won at Armadale a year ago, not long after then opening of the new purpose-built stadium in Leicester which signalled their return to the sport after 28 years. More recently Leicester have won at Glasgow and they sit second in the early Premier League table, unbeaten after three matches.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 18th MAY (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Craig Cook, Rider replacement for Derek Sneddon, Theo Pijper, Matthew Wethers (capt.), Andrew Tully, Micky Dyer, Charles Wright.

LEICESTER: Magnus Karlsson, Rider replacement for Lasse Bjerre, Simon Lambert, Jari Makinen, Kauko Nieminen (capt.), Jan Graversen, Simon Nielsen.

TOP SPEARHEAD: The strength of the Leicester team comes from their top two, and of course Magnus Karlsson was a successful Armadale favourite in Monarchs' colours in 2002-3.

Swede Magnus celebrated his Testimonial early this season and has had many impressive meetings at Armadale in recent years.

Kauko Nieminen is the Leicester captain, a Finnish star who is very popular and who has had his moments at Armadale after taking a while to get used to the place.

MATTHEW OK: Matthew Wethers hasn't been enjoying much luck in his Testimonial season, and he took another heavy tumble at Workington last Saturday.

He says "I was going to hit the fence so I took the option to slide off. My bike collected me across my ribs.

"I felt really sick, I thought I was going to throw up in my helmet and I was winded as well so I couldn't really tell the medical staff what I was feeling!

"Once I got my breath back I was ready for the next race, well I did get a 15 minute break!"

By Monday the Monarchs' skipper was feeling a bit better. "I'm pretty sore on my left chest area, most of the other pain has eased off a bit. I could probably do with some time off but I need to be racing really.

"I'll be ready for Friday and I've actually got three meetings at the weekend because I'm guesting for Ipswich at Berwick and Newcastle!"

DEREK'S PROGRESS: Derek Sneddon is a big loss to Monarchs at the moment and he will miss the match this Friday, but he is confident he won't be away from the action much longer.

SPONSORS ON FRIDAY: Last week's sponsors Keyline Broxburn have agreed to a speedy return after last week's rain-off, and will sponsor the Leicester match.

LIONS IN YEAR TWO: It's early days this year of course but Leicester are in their second season of their return to speedway, and are unbeaten in the Premier League after two home and one away fixture.

They will utilise rider replacement for Lasse Bjerre, which gives everyone except Magnus Karlsson an extra ride, and will most likely look to their top two of Karlsson and Nieminen to lead the way.

However both Simon Lambert and Jan Graversen have had good nights at Armadale before – Graversen scored 14 in the Cup Final for King's Lynn at Armadale in 2009, and Lambert has an 11-point score on his Armadale record.

Young Finn Jari Makinen has visited twice without much success, and Dane Simon Nielsen is coming to west Lothian for the first time.

It's certainly a Scandinavian team – in their normal lineup, one Englishman and six from the Scandic countries.

LAST MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs suffered a rain-off at home last Friday, then went down 34-58 at Workington on Saturday.

NEXT MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs face Rye House Rockets in the KO Cup home and away next weekend – Armadale on Friday 25th, Hoddesdon the next day. The Rockets have not been in the best of form but they are still a tough hurdle.