Masters v Lindgren last season Image Credit: Ron MacNeill

Lambert Leads the Diamonds

NEWS Wednesday 25th May 2016, 6:44pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Sensational teenager Robert Lambert makes his second appearance at Armadale this Friday in the colours of his current team, Newcastle Diamonds.

He was on the winning side last year with Peterborough and showed just how talented he is. The Diamonds will certainly test the Border Roofing Monarchs who need the points to move themselves up the table. Monarchs are at full strength while Diamonds use Theo Pijper to stand in for Steve Worrall who is riding in the Elite League on Friday.

THE HISTORY: Of all the Monarchs’ rivals, Newcastle are probably the side who have supplied the best and closest series of matches over the years, certainly in recent times.

The record between the clubs shows this: Monarchs 86 wins, Diamonds 85 wins, 6 draws, and Monarchs also a hairsbreadth ahead on race points by 7894 to 7862.

That’s after 68 years of competition!

PREMIER LEAGUE: It’s very early days in the Premier League, the target for all teams being a top six place in order to contest the title in the Playoffs.

After just two matches raced, Newcastle have a 100% record having beaten Berwick home and away.

Monarchs have raced home v Workington (won), and lost at Workington, Ipswich and Rye House away from home but picked up two match points.

Keeping a clean sheet at home will be a priority for us, as well as grabbing as many away points as possible.

WORLD FINALIST ERIK: Our German starlet Erik Riss took the latest step on the speedway ladder at Belle Vue last Saturday by qualifying for the World Under-21 Final.

He scored 7 points from 3 rides before the meeting was abandoned, but he was in one of the four qualifying positions at the time.

He now rides at King’s Lynn on 18th June in the first of the three legs of the final. It will be an interesting measure of his progress as he will be racing some very talented rivals including former Monarch Max Fricke, who is having a great season.

HOSPITALITY: There is good availability for the famous Armadale Hospitality this Friday. Bookings taken online. .

Teams for the Premier League Match at Armadale on Friday 27th May (start time 7:30pm, gates open 6:30pm), are:

BORDER ROOFING MONARCHS: Sam Masters (capt.), Erik Riss, Kevin Wolbert, Jye Etheridge, Ryan Fisher, Max Clegg, Dan Bewley.

NEWCASTLE SAPPHIRE ENGINEERING DIAMONDS: Robert Lambert, Victor Palovaara, Matej Kus, Ludvig Lindgren (capt.), Theo Pijper, Lewis Rose, Danny Phillips.

UNBEATEN DIAMONDS: Newcastle are having a good season and will be a threat on Friday even without Steve Worrall. Guest Theo Pijper has already been on the winning side at Armadale of course with Berwick.

Robert Lambert will be a major test for the home heat leaders. At 18 he is an outstanding prospect and very likely to be back in the Team GB squad for the forthcoming World Cup.

Diamonds have a solid European middle pair in Swede Lindgren and Czech Kus, and another Swede Palovaara at no. 2 had several Armadale race wins last season.

At reserve, who can tell what might happen! It certainly looks like a tight contest.

LAST MEETING: Armadale staged an intermediate level Challenge fixture in which a young Monarchs Select went down 43-45 to National League team Belle Vue Colts. Max Clegg and Jye Etheridge scored 11 each for the select, and Dan Bewley a maximum 18 for the Colts!

NEXT MEETING: Ryan Fisher, double league winner with Monarchs, stages his Testimonial Flyin Tonight. Full details will be revealed in the next few days but the field so far is:

Ricky Wells, Justin Sedgmen, Billy Janniro, Kenneth Hansen, Thomas H Jonasson, Andrew Tully, William Lawson, Dukie Ermolenko, Sam Masters, Aaron Summers, Matej Kus, Dennis Jonsson.

Discounted advance tickets will be available for the last time at Armadale on Friday. Please note that Season Tickets are not valid for a Testimonial.