PREMIER LEAGUE RESUMES WITH SHEFFIELD

NEWS Wednesday 8th July 2015, 6:49pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

With the British Grand Prix weekend out of the way, the Border Roofing Monarchs are back at Armadale this Friday trying to maintain their table-top position with a match against Sheffield Tigers.

The Yorkshire side have had their injury problems and bring in Glasgow captain Aaron Summers plus Ipswich Aussie Cameron Heeps, who was the star of the show for Ipswich in the KO Cup Final at Armadale last October. Monarchs also have one replacement rider as Rob Branford’s injury is taking longer than was hoped to heal. Liam Carr comes in for Friday’s match.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 10th July (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

EDINBURGH BORDER ROOFING MONARCHS: Sam Masters, Justin Sedgmen, Kevin Wolbert, Erik Riss, Craig Cook (capt.), Max Clegg, Liam Carr.

SHEFFIELD TIGERS: Aaron Summers, rider replacement for Ashley Birks, David Bellego, Cameron Heeps, Andre Compton, Arthur Sissis, Josh Bates.

ROB BRANFORD: Rob suffered his right arm injury on 12th June against Glasgow and had originally hoped to be back before the end of June.

However the injury hasn’t healed as he hoped and after consulting medical experts he is now targeting Friday 24th July and the visit of Rye House for his return.

Monarchs will use a guest this week but may consider a temporary replacement depending on Rob’s progress.

PREMIER LEAGUE: : Monarchs currently lead the Premier League with 30 points from 11 matches.

This lead could be lost if Peterborough win at Berwick on Wednesday night in the Sky TV match, which includes multiple guests.

Somerset are also on 30 from 11 with a slightly inferior points difference to Monarchs.

Peterborough as at Wednesday afternoon have 28 from 11, which incredibly includes two home defeats but an unbeaten away record!

Sheffield and Glasgow are both on 24 points from 12 matches.

MONARCH OF THE MATCH: We haven’t had a regular sponsor this season for our weekly selection of Monarch of the match, but from this Friday we will have for the remainder of the season.

It will be known as The Gibsons and Mazzarelli of Edinburgh MONARCH OF THE MATCH.

MATCH SPONSOR: Friday’s match will be sponsored by team sponsors Border Roofing who have invited some of the club’s long-term supporters to share Hospitality with them.

GOOD YEAR FOR YORKSHIREMEN: Sheffield have done well this year considering the injury problems they have had. They currently sit in fourth place in the table.

They seem to have chosen well with their guests for Friday – Aaron Summers only dropped one point on his last visit other than an engine failure, and Cameron Heeps top scored for Ipswich last October.

Bellego and the reserves can cover for Birks, and it could be that Sheffield will be looking for some good scoring by their reserves who kept them afloat on their recent trip to Glasgow.

Amazingly, Sissis and Bates are the only two Sheffield riders who rode in the KO Cup meeting when Sheffield were at Armadale on 22nd May.

On the Edinburgh side, Erik Riss moves back into the top five and will race with his fellow countryman Kevin Wolbert, while Justin Sedgmen returns to no. 2 where he proved so successful last season and early this season.

LAST MEETING: The Border Roofing Monarchs beat Plymouth 64-28 with Erik Riss recording a paid maximum 15 points.

NEXT MEETING: On Friday 17th July Monarchs race the first leg of their KO Cup quarter final against Redcar at Armadale. Please note that season tickets do not admit holders to this match.

AWAY MATCHES: Monarchs have only raced 4 away matches in the Premier League so far but have a busy spell coming up.

Away fixtures coming up are Ipswich (16th), Berwick (18th), Redcar (Cup, 23rd), Plymouth (25th), Rye House (8th August), Peterborough (9th August).

Full Result Details