CAN WE MAKE IT THREE CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS RUNNING?

NEWS Wednesday 7th October 2015, 5:39pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Border Roofing Monarchs hope to beat the Peterborough Panthers by more than two points at Armadale on Friday to qualify for the Premier Championship Final against either Somerset or Glasgow.

Monarchs are at full strength again with the return of Kevin Wolbert and hope that Kevin as well as Sam Masters and Max Clegg can shake off the effects of recent injury and illness which have inevitably affected them. Panthers will again use Ipswich's Rohan Tungate as guest replacement for Ostrergaard and have a solid side in which Ben Barker, Anders Thomsen and perhaps Armadale debutant Emil Grondal might be the danger men.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER PLAYOFF SEMI-FINAL SECOND LEG MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 9th October (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

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

PETERBOROUGH READYPOWER PANTHERS: Rohan Tungate (guest), Michael Palm Toft, Anders Thomsen, Simon Lambert, Ben Barker, Emil Grondal, Rafal Konopka.

THE FIRST LEG: Monarchs rode at Peterborough last Sunday and led for much of the meeting before losing narrowly 46-44.

The superb pairing of Craig Cook and Justin Sedgmen delivered three 5-1s, a huge contribution, and Erik Riss won a couple of heats which helped to compensate for the absence of Kevin Wolbert and the fact that Sam Masters was suffering from illness.

Captain Craig Cook said "Sam wasn't well at Peterborough so it was a great effort to turn out. He tried everything and didn't have any speed but I think it was just the way he was feeling."

Peterborough won on their last visit to Armadale by one point so no-one will be expecting an easy night – though only ONE of their team that night returns this time!

INJURIES: At least three of the team will be hoping that they will be fitter on Friday than they have been recently.

Max Clegg admitted last week that he was still feeling the effects of his recent crash at Birmingham, and it was also suggested that his frame may still have been bent.

Kevin Wolbert returns following his unpleasant crash in the German Playoffs, which left him with neck, shoulder and hand injuries as well as concussion.

He has only been out a fortnight but has missed the KO Cup Final, the Fours Final, and one leg of the League Cup Final and the Premier Playoff semi!

He said on Facebook that his hand is still a little swollen but he was determined not to miss the final matches after doing so much to get the team to this position.

Sam Masters has been struggling with shoulder and hand injuries but even worse than that, felt ill throughout the whole of last week. He is on the mend, slowly.

MUCH-CHANGED PANTHERS: This is a very different Peterborough team from the one who visited in August, and they have probably made more changes this season than anyone. They have finished up with a very strong lineup.

Rafal Konopka and Michael Palm Toft are the only riders who remain from the team which visited in August, and only Simon Lambert is left from their lineup at the start of the season.

Anders Thomsen and Ben Barker are the riders who have made most difference, joining the side in yet another reshuffle recently, and both have been in tremendous form.

Dane Emil Grondal missed the match in August and will be making his Armadale debut on Friday. Much will depend on his performance.

FOURS WINNERS: With so much going on there hasn't been much chance to celebrate the brilliant performance by the team last Thursday when they won the restaged Fours Final at Redcar. It was a marvellous effort by Cook, Masters, Sedgmen and Riss who fought back from three points down with four heats remaining.

LAST MEETING: The Border Roofing Monarchs beat Somerset 47-43 with Craig Cook unbeaten, but this was not enough to overturn the 49-41 deficit from the first leg. Congratulations to Somerset on their victory.

NEXT MEETING: The Premier Playoff Final beckons for the winners of Friday's tie, and it will be against the winners of the Somerset v Glasgow semi-final which takes place on Friday and Sunday. If Monarchs make it dates will be announced as soon as possible. It would then be the third year running that Monarchs have made it to the final.

Full Result Details