GREETINGS FROM UNCLE ‘B’ (LXXIX)

NEWS Tuesday 30th September 2014, 7:05pm

by Brian Gray

  Edinburgh Monarchs

As we step into the final month of the speedway calendar in the UK it might be an idea to step back and take a look at how it is shaping up for the incredible Edinburgh Scotwaste Monarchs!

Once again we are on an unbeaten run of matches – our second of the season – and it currently sits at fourteen. It could, with my calculations reach as far as 24 again, the total we achieved before being beaten by Peterborough in the middle of July!

So let’s go through the competitions. With Newcastle beating Glasgow on Sunday, that means that we are now facing the Diamonds in the Knockout Cup semi-final with the winners meeting Ipswich in the final. Our record against Newcastle this year has been fabulous although they gave us a few squeaky bum moments when they visited us back on September 13th! Remember all these ties now are home and away on aggregate with the K.O. Cup not allowing TRs. Indeed, we've drawn away both at Newcastle and Ipswich so the Trophy is as good as in the cupboard! That's a possible four matches with another two when we race Peterborough in the League Cup final. They also ran us close when they were up here at the end of June and I think this final could be an extremely tight affair.

We're going to have to wait to see who we have in the Play-off final as the last fixture in that mini-league is not scheduled until October 10th. Somerset must have been disappointed not to have won at Scunthorpe last week and that means that the group is still wide open although my thoughts are that the Witches might just sneak it by a whisker! Another two ties makes it a possible eight. That just leaves a hugely anticipated traditional clash between two of the oldest rivals in speedway. Yes, you've guessed correctly, the Scottish Cup against the Glasgow Tigers! They've got us as visitors on October 26th according to their website so if we can squeeze the Scottish Cup in that will make a posssible ten fixtures in October and should we not lose, our unbeaten run could go to 24 again!

Dates for many of those matches above have yet to be confirmed so it is most important to keep one eye on our official website for the very latest in news. What is most definite is that this coming Friday we are welcoming the Newcastle Diamonds to Armadale. They suffered the loss of Lewis Kerr in the Elite Play Off match at King’s Lynn on Monday and bring in Theo Pijper to replace him. They’ll also be without Lewis Rose and Chris Mills but they’ve still got four Armadale experts, so this week's match is one not to miss and is perfect for bringing along a friend to hold on to! It has all the makings of a humdinger! So be sure and come early to claim your spot and leave a little time to say 'hi' on your way in. I look forward to seeing you on Friday. Until then be good and take care!

Uncle ‘B’