Edinburgh Monarchs v Somerset Rebels

This may not have been a great season for Edinburgh but this match showed that they still have, on the right night, class and character in the side.

They went into the match without Matthew Wethers (fourth in the averages) and Kyle Howarth, and seemed to be right up against it, with guest reserve Ashley Birks not having had any previous success at Armadale.

On top of that, the other reserve Byron Bekker was ruled out with a knee injury after falling in heat 2, which meant that Monarchs could not even field a rider replacement in two of Wethers? four heats.

As it turned out, Birks far exceeded expectations with a display of confident gating and riding, giving the backup which the home heat leaders needed. Kalle Katajisto, in spite of plenty of effort, struggled again, though his few points were also important.

The dominant figures though were Kevin Wolbert, Andrew Tully and Craig Cook, all at their brilliant best throughout. They didn?t always gate but were capable of powering through from the back when required, on a track which was in miraculously good condition after yet another Friday of bad weather.

Ride of the night was Wolbert?s power pass of Corey Gathercole in heat 10 at a point when the Aussie had won his previous two heats. It was a firm but fair overtake in a great race. At his best Wolbert really is a top quality rider.

Cook was the poorest gater of the top three, therefore had to do the most passing, but was pulling off some of the best cutbacks seen at Armadale since the heyday of Peter Carr.

Tully looked relaxed and confident as he reeled off five wins, before missing his maximum in the final heat.

Dakota North and Alex Davies gave support to Gathercole for the Rebels but nominal top two Sam Masters and James Wright were very disappointing.

Somerset lost James Holder who fell heavily in heat 8. There were two long delays for the injuries to Bekker and Holder, and whatever the rights and wrongs of current medical procedures it is becoming a problem in keeping the crowd interested during such gaps.

At least tonight, the fans saw some excellent racing and a very strong performance by the home team.

Edinburgh Monarchs v Somerset Rebels

Ninth placed Edinburgh will be looking to quickly turn the tables on third placed Somerset in this Friday's Premier League clash at Armadale (7.30) after a bruising 19-point defeat at the Oak Tree Arena on Wednesday.

In reality there isn't too much between the teams but the Rebels have two more away wins and two less home defeats than Monarchs which demonstrates the narrow margin between comparative success and comparative failure.

Starting from the top, Monarchs' leader of the pack, Kevin Wolbert faces a twenty-year-old from Newcastle who has been riding motorcycles since he was six. He is Sam Masters, now in his second season with the Rebels and who by the way was born in Newcastle - New South Wales!

The enigma that is Kalle Katajisto should have been lining up against Christian Heffenbrock but the exciting German rider has been involved in a seemingly never-ending series of crashes which have kept him out for lengthy spells. Rider replacement will therefore operate at No.2.

Star performer Andrew Tully has been enjoying huge success at the Scotwaste Arena but he will be severely tested by another of the four Australians in the Rebels side, Dakota North. The 20-year-old was a sensation for Newcastle last season but decided on a change of club this year and has been out injured for a spell.

Rider replacement operates for Monarchs skipper Matthew Wethers who was due to face 24-year-old Cory Gathercole, a relative of Leigh Adams who is now in his fifth season of UK speedway. His first two years were spent at Isle of Wight and his next three at Somerset, with regular appearances for Swindon mixed in.

Craig Cook may have the hardest job at No.5 yet again. His opposite number is James Wright, the 25-year-old from Stockport who spent his formative speedway years at Workington. Wrighty will be full of confidence after a good start as replacement for the under-performing Travis McGowan.

Action man Byron Bekker will be hoping to restrict the scoring of his opposite number, Alex Davies from Northampton who has spent nearly all his life in Australia. The eighteen-year-old lost his team place at Newport to Mark Jones but has now replaced Kyle Hughes at No.6 for the Rebels.

Kyle Howarth was getting back to his best but is out injured. His replacement will be looking to outscore James Holder, big brother of Grand Prix star Chris. The 25-year-old captain of the Rebels had spells at Isle of Wight, Newport and Stoke before replacing Tommy Allen in the Rebels side last year.

Somerset won four of their first five away Premier League matches at the start of this season but have since failed to win in a further eleven attempts, so Monarchs will be determined to take all three points from this one. Defeat would consign them to a bottom half finish.

Monarchs struggled on a heavy track in cider country this week and with showers forecast for part of the day, conditions may not be altogether to the home side's liking on Friday. But Andrew Tully showed the way recently against Glasgow and some of that spirit must rub off on the others.

Their job is all the harder with two of their best riders having collided in Wednesday's match and being out injured. So both sides will line up with only six riders and Rebels coming out slightly better on the injury front. Monarchs will need all your support in what could be another backs-to-the-wall night of Premier League speedway.

Likely line-ups:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Kevin Wolbert, Kalle Katajisto, Andrew Tully, R/R for Matthew Wethers, Craig Cook, Byron Bekker, guest for Kyle Howarth.

SOMERSET REBELS: Sam Masters, R/R for Christian Hefenbrock, Dakota North, Corey Gathercole, James Wright, Alex Davies, James Holder (capt.).