LEAGUE CHAMPIONS NEXT AT ARMADALE

NEWS Wednesday 22nd May 2013, 5:07pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs shot up the Premier League table last weekend with home and away wins over Plymouth, and this Friday face the reigning League Champions Scunthorpe at Armadale.

This is the restaging of the match postponed from 3rd May. The Scorpions are actually unbeaten after four league matches this year, but on the other hand have won only one – against the Scotwaste Monarchs! This came after they had brought in Lewis Blackbird to strengthen their reserve berths. Their other results were draws at home against Ipswich and Workington plus a draw at Glasgow.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 24th May (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

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

SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS: Josh Auty, rider replacement for Thomas Jorgensen, Michael Palm Toft, Ashley Birks, David Howe (capt.), Ryan Douglas, Lewis Blackbird.

NEXT WEEKEND: The Scotwaste Monarchs don't have a home meeting a week on Friday because it is the traditional weekend of the Premier League Pairs at Somerset and the British Grand Prix at Cardiff.

As previously announced, Monarchs will be represented by Craig Cook and Claus Vissing in the PL Pairs, Claus just getting the nod ahead of Theo Pijper due to having had Somerset as a home track last season.

Monarchs haven't won this competition since 1986 when Les Collins and Doug Wyer were the winners at Hackney. Pijper and Andrew Tully just missed a semi-final berth last season.

The following day Craig Cook has a reserve berth for the British GP in recognition of his superb performances over the past year or so. He should have had this place last year but suffered injury before the event.

He would get a ride at Cardiff in the event of any of the 16 riders in the main event dropping out of any of their heats.

LEAGUE CUP ON SUNDAY: The Scotwaste Monarchs complete their League Cup qualifying matches away at Glasgow on Sunday (3pm). It's the first visit of the season to Ashfield.

Monarchs have already won the section but will of course still want to perform well on Sunday.

BIRTHDAY BOYS: For some reason quite a number of recent Monarchs have their birthdays clustered in late May.

Craig Cook was 26 on Tuesday, Andrew Tully (who returns soon to the Newcastle team) is 26 on Sunday, and Matthew Wethers (on loan to Berwick) is 28 next Thursday.

Many happy returns to all these popular riders!

WINNERS LAST TIME!: On their way to winning the Premier League last year, Scunthorpe won at Armadale in very wet conditions on 31st August last year.

Josh Auty, Michael Palm Toft and Ashley Birks will remember it well as all three were in double figures on that occasion, coping brilliantly with the conditions.

Incredibly Thomas Jorgensen was also in double figures that night, but Thomas misses this week's match with a broken shoulder from a recent crash.

Scorpions' captain David Howe has also had some great nights at Armadale, where he won the 2005 Scottish Open Championship. David missed most of last season with injury, but he has come back successfully this year and last weekend had his Testimonial meeting.

At reserve the visitors have new Aussie Ryan Douglas plus Lewis Blackbird who has definitely strengthened them since moving from Leicester.

LAST MEETING: Last Friday the Scotwaste Monarchs beat Plymouth 56-36 in a match which was level after six races. Craig Cook and Theo Pijper were both unbeaten for Monarchs.

NEXT MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs have a fortnight's break from team matches with the next meeting at Armadale on 7th June against Redcar Bears, currently top of the table!

Full Result Details