Edinburgh Monarchs v Glasgow Tigers

A weakened Glasgow team didn?t appear to offer a great deal of threat but they gave a determined performance and made life more difficult than usual for the Scotwaste Monarchs.

Unusually gating was very important because on a track rescued from the weather, the usual passing lines were missing, notably the inside lines off the turns. Such overtakes as there were had to be really worked for.

William Lawson is back to something like his best and took a smooth, fast win in heat 1. Derek made a good enough start but found himself pushed to the back, and slid off on the pits corner.

Anders Andersen was an early leader in heat 2 and rode awkwardly enough to make it difficult for Matthew Wethers to find a way through. Eventually he did, and meanwhile Aaron Summers (by far the slowest gater in the meeting) had found his way into third place, but ran out of time to improve on that.

Shane Parker flew from the gate to win heat 3 easily, but Tigers? guest Suchanek was well back.

Ryan Fisher made a strong outside move on the first turn of heat 4 to win easily, but Leverington was never under threat in second. The track was looking quite tame and riders were finding it hard to make up ground after the second bend.

Parker?s start in heat 5 was even quicker and he won comfortably from Lawson and Tully. Trent Leverington then did likewise in heat 6 ahead of Sneddon and Lawson, and Monarchs were not enjoying their usual points spree.

Parker was out again in heat 7 and this time comfortably headed Fisher and Wethers, and with the score at 23-19 it was a lot closer than most had expected. However Tigers had by now used their two strongest rider replacements.

Heat 8 can often be one we do well in, and Derek Sneddon did take a comfortable win, but Lee Dicken held second with Aaron Summers settling for his third single-point ride.

Leverington made another good start in heat 9 but this time Fisher got on to his outside and made a brave pass down the back straight, just hitting the pits turn ahead. Andrew Tully as ever tried very hard to put Leverington under pressure but he was suffering from the absence of the usual lines.

For once Shane Parker missed the start from gate 4 in heat 10. He was away quickly enough from the tapes but William Lawson beat him to the corner with Derek Sneddon also there. Even Parker could do nothing to find a passing move and we had an important 5-1 to go 36-24 ahead.

Tigers then used Adam McKinna in the rider replacement ride and Monarchs took another comfortable 5-1 from Fisher and Wethers. The match was virtually settled now but it had been no walkover.

It was time for Parker?s TR and he duly took 6, though Andrew Tully threw everything into his challenge and finished just a length down at the finish.

Lawson was away again in heat 13 with Leverington second, but Fisher pulled off the pass of the night on lap three, squeezing round the Aussie in daring style on the road bend.

Suchanek had been so poor that he was dropped from heat 14, and Monarchs gave Summers a fourth ride. That proved to be a waste of time as he failed to recover from another bad start. Meanwhile Andrew Tully had a battle on his hands trying to pass Andersen, who is awkward when in front, but eventually he made it.

Fisher slid off rather clumsily on the first lap of heat 15, and Tigers took their first real heat advantage of the night with a 4-2 from Parker and Leverington. Parker then rather laboured the chicken thing, and also dropped the victory flag and rode over it. Presumably it was a show of defiance and indeed a 39 point score from Tigers was miles better than many recent visitors.

HERMISTON MONARCH OF THE MATCH: Ryan Fisher

Edinburgh Monarchs v Glasgow Tigers

The last home league match of the season brings Glasgow back to Armadale for the first time since 4th April. A lot has happened to both teams since that meeting.

The Monarchs track the same six riders plus R/R for Thomas H Jonasson just as they did then but the Tigers are without Ross Brady, Robert Ksiezak and Josh Grajczonek who rode for them on that occasion. In their places they will use R/R for Robert Ksiezak at number 1, which means that all of the team are eligible for an R/R ride, Reading Racers? Tomas Suchanek as guest at number 4 for Josh Grajczonek and Anders Andersen at number 7.

On the face of it this match should be a stroll in the park for the Monarchs. They have beaten the Tigers home and away in all four matches they have raced this season and have gone through the season unbeaten at home in all competitions. The Tigers, on the other hand, have had a miserable time of it all season long having lost six home matches in the league which sees them currently sitting third bottom ahead of only Stoke and Mildenhall although Stoke have a number of matches in hand and could pass them in the run in.

With the league fast approaching a climax with a two horse race between Edinburgh and Somerset a home win is absolutely crucial to keep the pressure on the Rebels. The big danger is that the team and supporters underestimate the fluctuating fortunes of speedway and take a win in this fixture for granted.

Glasgow have certainly found themselves a good guest for Grajczonek in Reading?s Tomas Suchanek who has had some productive matches at the Dale. His average at Armadale is ahead of Grajczonek?s and indeed Ksiezak?s too! Riding with Shane Parker at number 4, Suchanek forms a powerful middle pairing for the Tigers which could score well. Suchanek?s strength is in his gating and if he gets ahead in his races as partner to Shane Parker he will have the Glasgow top man to help him home.

Last time at the Dale, Shane Parker rattled up 17 points from his five rides losing only to William Lawson in a superb final race. He will be hoping to go through the card unbeaten this time and is certainly in good enough form to do so. Shane will have six rides in this match and, if Glasgow use him as a Tactical Substitute should/when they fall eight points behind, that total could increase to seven rides.

The serious threat seems to end with these two however. Trent Leverington and the Armadale track have never seemed to be the best of friends although Trent, like fellow team mate Lee Dicken, fights to the end for every point so both will need to be subdued. The two Glasgow reserves have yet to pose much threat at the Dale. Mitchell Davey last rode here in Mildenhall?s colours without much success while Anders Andersen was a late call up for the Scottish Open but failed to impress.

Overall the Monarchs have too much strength for the Tigers to entertain much real hope but I don?t see the 60-30ish win for the home side which is being touted by some as very likely. It would be welcome though because in the unlikely event of the league being tied and decided on race points every extra advantage would be crucial. The team will surely be on a high after winning at Newcastle last Sunday night. Matthew Wethers in particular will be looking for another big pay cheque from the reserve berth.

Line-ups:

Edinburgh: William Lawson, Derek Sneddon (captain), Rider Replacement for Thomas H Jonasson, Andrew Tully, Ryan Fisher, Matthew Wethers, Aaron Summers

Glasgow: Rider Replacement for Robert Ksiezak, Lee Dicken, Shane Parker, Tomas Suchanek (Guest), Trent Leverington, Mitchell Davey, Anders Andersen.

Good luck to the Monarchs in their attempt to complete a 100% league home record.