Scorpions To Do Battle Again

NEWS Wednesday 20th July 2016, 5:00pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Border Roofing Monarchs race the return of their classic Premier League match of last Sunday when they welcome the Scunthorpe Scorpions to Armadale on Friday.

These two teams fought out a superb duel at the Eddie Wright Raceway, full of bravery and commitment, with Monarchs winning by a point after a last race 5-0. That might not be the most satisfactory of endings but it was a dramatic conclusion after an exceptional contest. We are hoping for more of the same on Friday, and obviously for better weather after record-breaking bad luck which has caused six home matches to be lost.

PREMIER LEAGUE: Six teams qualify for the end-of-season Playoffs which decide the Premier League title, and in spite of their shortage of home matches the Border Roofing Monarchs have forced their way into sixth with their two away wins last week.

They won at Redcar and Scunthorpe in two very tight matches, and that kind of form should see them comfortably into the top six as long as the home matches are won.

Teams sitting above Monarchs at the moment are Glasgow, Sheffield, Peterborough, Somerset and Berwick, and Newcastle are one to watch with even fewer home matches raced than Monarchs!

Somerset are actually unbeaten in the Premier League but Monarchs have matches in hand on the others above them.

PREMIER FOURS: The all-in Fours event with 13 teams competing, starts at Peterborough on Saturday continuing into Sunday.

Monarchs race in Group 3 against Ipswich, Rye House and Berwick. The three section winners meet seeded Peterborough in the Final on Sunday. Monarchs' quartet will be Sam Masters, Kevin Wolbert, Ryan Fisher and Erik Riss with Max Clegg at reserve.

There are due to be 72 races in an event which also features an individual event for some of the riders whose teams don’t make the Fours Final.

WORLD CUP: Sam Masters (Australia), Kevin Wolbert (Germany) and Ryan Fisher (USA) compete for their countries in the second World Cup qualifying meeting on Tuesday 28th July at Vastervik. Home nation Sweden also compete with the winners going to Saturday’s Final at Belle Vue, and the next two to the Race-off on Friday, also at Belle Vue.

Teams for the Premier League Match at Armadale on Friday 22nd July (start time 7:30pm, gates open 6:30pm), are:

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

SCUNTHORPE HENDERSON INSURANCE SCORPIONS: Ryan Douglas, Matthew Wethers (guest), rider replacement for Lewis Kerr, Carl Wilkinson, Josh Auty, Michael Palm Toft, Josh Bailey.

CAN THE THRILLS BE REPEATED?: It would be nice to think we could get as good a match as we were able to provide the fans at Scunthorpe last weekend.

For that to happen the Scorpions would need to be at their best, with skipper Josh Auty maintaining his excellent recent form, Ryan Douglas really getting to grips with Armadale, and the ultra-experienced Matthew Wethers and Carl Wilkinson putting all their track knowledge to good use. (Matthew stands in for injured Alex Davies; Matthew scored paid 13 in the last match at Armadale).

There’s a real danger man at reserve where Michael Palm Toft has been a key man in Scunthorpe’s recent successes which have included a win at Peterborough!

LAST MEETING: The Border Roofing Monarchs suffered another postponement last Friday when the cup tie against Glasgow was called off in the late afternoon.

NEXT MEETING: We welcome Sheffield on 29th July When Monarchs are going to be fielding a team with several guest riders due to other commitments.

Full Result Details