DEEK BACK FOR THE CUP CLASHES

NEWS Monday 21st May 2012, 4:57pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Derek Sneddon has had a successful run-out at Newcastle and returns to the Scotwaste Monarchs’ lineup for the tough weekend cup clashes against Rye House.

The weather has caused two successive postponements at Armadale so everyone will be pleased to see the action resumed on Friday – as the forecasts suggest it will be. We shouldn’t be worrying about the weather at the end of May! Rockets of course are led by Dane Charlie Gjedde, one of the top Armadale specialists in recent times, and they have a team well equipped to ride the track.

TEAMS FOR THE KNOCKOUT CUP MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 25th MAY (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

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

RYE HOUSE ROCKETS: Charlie Gjedde, Jason Bunyan, Anders Mellgren, Ritchie Hawkins, Jordan Frampton, Jason Garrity, Luke Bowen (capt.)

DEREK’S SUCCESSFUL TEST: Having been unable to have his first try-out (following his broken collar bone of 29th April) at Armadale on Friday, Derek Sneddon headed down to Newcastle who kindly gave him the opportunity to have a run after their meeting on Sunday.

He said afterwards “I had three rides. I went out with Lemo and Robbo and I was climbing all over their back wheels.

“No problems with the collar bone so we’re all good for Friday.”

That news will be a great boost to the team. Derek’s presence is always a positive influence, and his points usually aren’t matched by the rider replacement facility.

ROCKETS AT ARMADALE: The Scotwaste Monarchs can usually count on greater Armadale expertise than that of their opponents.

That expectation will be put very strongly to the test this week against a Rockets’ team, all of whose riders have a score of at least 6 at Armadale on their past record.

Leading the way is Charlie Gjedde whose Armadale average is 10.5 and who scored 16 on his last visit, including winning the last heat decider which won that match for Newport.

Jordan Frampton is another past double figure scorer (14) while both reserves Jason Garrity and Luke Bowen have scored 8+2 on previous visits.

The Rockets have a patchy record so far this season but they are a good side potentially, and clearly will not be put off by the track.

It’s also true, though, that most of the Monarchs can ride the Hoddesdon track of the Rockets pretty well.

SPONSORS ON FRIDAY: Keyline Broxburn are trying hard to sponsor a match at Armadale having been due to back each of the last two postponed matches! They are back again on Friday to sponsor the KO Cup match.

CHANGES HAVE STRENGTHENED ROCKETS: Rye House have had team problems this season but have been able to turn these to their advantage.

They lost long-serving team captain Chris Neath on the very first night of the season, a big blow to their much-respected captain (who also rides Armadale very well!) – but that allowed them to bring in no less a performer than Charlie Gjedde, star man in the Newport team who closed down on the eve of the season.

They also had difficulty with the return of Tyson Nelson, who has not come over from Australia in spite of a promising debut season in 2011. But again they dipped into the Newport side and came up with Anders Mellgren, the Swede who has since done very well in Rockets’ colours.

Add in New Zealand Grand Prix wildcard Jason Bunyan, flying Jordan Frampton and two very handy reserves in Jason Garrity and Luke Bowen, and you can say that Monarchs face a very tough hurdle in their opening KO Cup tie.

LAST MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs suffered their second successive rain-off at home last Friday, and have only raced one home and two away matches in May.

NEXT MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs face Sheffield at Armadale on Friday 1st June in the Premier League.