THE LEAGUE DECIDER

NEWS Wednesday 22nd October 2014, 9:52pm

by Toby Lerone

  Edinburgh Monarchs

This week’s speedway action at Armadale Stadium takes place on Saturday as the Scotwaste Monarchs attempt to complete the treble by lifting the Premier League title in the deciding leg of the Championship Final against Somerset Rebels.

THE TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP DECIDER AT ARMADALE ON SATURDAY 25TH OCTOBER (start time 7.00, doors open 5.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Craig Cook, Justin Sedgmen, Max Fricke, Stevie Worrall (rider replacement), Sam Masters, Aaron Fox, Derek Sneddon (captain).

SOMERSET REBELS: Aaron Summers (guest for Oliver Allen), Brady Kurtz (rider replacement), Charles Wright, Pontus Aspgren, Nick Morris (captain), Todd Kurtz, Paul Starke.

MONARCHS SEEK REVENGE: Last year’s Premier League Play Offs featured the same teams and on that occasion Somerset took the title. This year the Scotwaste Monarchs are seeking revenge and hoping to lift the Premier League title for the first time since 2010 and the fourth time since 2003. The Scotwaste Monarchs have been the dominant team in the League this year having finished well clear at the top of the table before the competition moved into the deciding play offs. They have also won the other two major trophies of the Premier League, the League Cup and the Knock Out Cup. Despite this the Monarchs know that they will face a serious challenge from the Rebels who will not give up their title easily.

The line up of both teams has been hit by injury over the last twenty four hours. The Scotwaste Monarchs have lost Stevie Worrall after a crash at Wolverhampton Speedway resulted in a broken wrist and put an end to his season. The Monarchs will cover for his absence by using the rider replacement facility and will share his rides to other team members. Somerset will be without their number one and captain, Oliver Allen. Olly crashed racing in Poland last week and despite a determined effort to overcome a shoulder injury he has decided that he will not be fit to contest the Final. The Rebels can use a guest in his place and have called up former Monarch Aaron Summers to fill the gap.

The first leg of the Final takes place at Somerset’s Oak Tree Arena on Friday night before the teams travel north for Saturday’s decider. The Scotwaste Monarchs management are expecting a bumper crowd and are opening the stadium gates earlier than normal at 5.30pm to accommodate the crowd.

Monarchs’ Chairman and team manager, Alex Harkess said, “Our excellent record throughout the season counts for nothing now, we’ve got to go out in these two matches and prove, once again, that we are the best. With a big crowd behind us on Saturday night I hope we can.”

LAST MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs picked up their second national trophy of the season by defeating Ipswich in the Knock Out Cup Final.

The 2014 speedway season will end on Saturday with the Championship Final.

Full Result Details