LEAGUE STARTS – WITH THE CHAMPIONS!

NEWS Tuesday 30th April 2013, 9:52pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs race their first Premier League match of the season at Armadale on Friday – and it’s against the reigning champions Scunthorpe!

The Scorpions won at Armadale last August on their way to the Playoffs, and also took a point from Armadale in these Playoffs. They have retained a very similar side this season and although they haven’t made the strongest of starts, a glance at their top five shows how tough it could be on Friday. The teams will meet again at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Monday.

TEAMS FOR THE LEAGUE CUP MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 3rd May (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Craig Cook, Derek Sneddon (capt.), Theo Pijper, Max Fricke, Claus Vissing, Marcel Helfer, Jozsef Tabaka.

SCUNTHORPE HENDERSON’S INSURANCE SCORPIONS: Josh Auty, Thomas Jorgensen, Michael Palm Toft, Ashley Birks, David Howe (capt.), Josh Bates, Ryan Douglas.

BUSY RIDERS: Several of the Scotwaste Monarchs have been in action over the last few days.

Craig Cook guested for his local team Workington as they overturned Ipswich’s 20 point advantage in the cup, and he also proved a match winner for the Comets at Scunthorpe on Tuesday. After 1st May his average is too high to ride for them though there are other teams with missing no. 1s.

Claus Vissing has ridden in Sweden and Poland in recent days, heads for a Danish meeting on Wednesday and one in Germany on Saturday!

Theo Pijper won a grasstrack meeting in Germany at the weekend, and Jozsef Tabaka represented Hungary in the European Pairs at the weekend.

It’s a jet set life in modern speedway.

TOUGH TOP FIVE: It’s unlikely that we will see many teams at Armadale this year with a stronger top five than Scunthorpe.

The fact that the brilliant young Dane Thomas Jorgensen rides at no. 2 partnered with Josh Auty gives them a devastating opening pair.

David Howe is finding his feet after injury but has been an Armadale specialist for years, and of course won the Scottish Open in 2005. The Scorpions have moved him back to no. 5 this week so must feel he is on form.

The middle pair is the lowest average one, but both Ashley Birks and Michael Palm Toft were prominent when the Scorpions won at Armadale last August, and both have scored double figures there before.

Neither Josh Bates nor Ryan Douglas has ridden Armadale before so it’s harder to know what the reserves might do – but it will be a hard match.

LEGEND AT ARMADALE: Eighties hero Doug Wyer, winner of the National Pairs with Les Collins in 1986, will be the special guest at Monarchs’ Hospitality evening on Friday. Generous supporters’ packages are available online.

CHAMPION MENTALITY: As Monarchs know from their three title successes in recent seasons, success tends to breed success, and it is to be expected that Scunthorpe will come to Armadale with every intention of winning.

Any Monarchs fans who were at Ipswich last season for Monarchs’ league visit will recall the brilliance of Thomas Jorgensen guesting for us, and to find him at no. 2 is quite an eye opener.

Scunthorpe are the last visiting team to win at Armadale, a victory by 15 points last August, and each of Jorgensen, Birks, Auty and Palm Toft scored double figures on that occasion with Birks on 13+1 the top scorer.

Add in David Howe, always a favourite at Armadale, and you have an impressive lineup.

LAST MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs beat Berwick 55-37 after a hard-fought match which was close up to the half way stage. Craig Cook and Theo Pijper both dropped just one point to the opposition.

NEXT MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs can clinch qualification for the League Cup semi-finals if they beat Glasgow at Armadale on 10th May. The Tigers have been growing in confidence with some good performances on their home track.