BIG WIN OVER THE ROCKETS

The Scotwaste Monarchs gave a great all-round display and built up a 28-point lead in the first leg of the Knockout Cup tie against Rye House. They must be favourites to qualify when the second leg is staged at Hoddesdon tomorrow but will travel with no complacency.

All seven of the team deserve praise, with heat leaders Craig Cook, Andrew Tully and Theo Pijper all in double figures and sharing 10 race wins, but a special mention has to be reserved for Derek Sneddon.

After an unlucky heat 1 in which he was accidentally baulked and finished pointless, he gritted his teeth and gated like a demon, finishing in second place behind his partner in his remaining three rides – all 5-1s obviously.

It was a key contribution and a great comeback from a man with an unquenchable spirit.

All 7 Monarchs had a win or paid win on their record and it was the reserves who put the team in front with a heat 2 5-1. Matthew Wethers was very much on song and dropped his only point in heat 14.

Charlie Gjedde, track specialist, won heat 1 but remarkably never won another heat and picked up two lasts. Jordan Frampton was another disappointment for the Rockets who had no-one on more than 7 points.

Len Silver made the trip up and reacted sportingly, but there is no doubt he was very disappointed by his team's showing, and especially by their gating.

Other than Gjedde, only Mellgren won a race for the visitors and in a way their only success was the absent Hawkins (ill) whose rider replacement rides scored 7+1, more than he has scored on any of his 13 visits to Armadale.

Edinburgh Monarchs v Rye House Rockets

Top speedway action returns to Armadale on Friday (7.30) after an enforced two week lay-off when the Rye House Rockets visit the Scotwaste Arena in the first leg of an exciting first-round Knockout Cup clash with the return leg at Hoddesden on Saturday night.

With two teams well used to racing on similar circuits that are on the comparatively small side, home track advantage should be less of a factor than normal in this tie. That's not to say that Monarchs won't want to get off to a flying start before the visitors get 'dialled in' as they say on Sky TV.

Monarchs new shining star, Craig Cook will find his recently earned No.1 status severely threatened by the decidedly big fish in a small pond, 31-year-old Danish internationalist and man of many Elite League clubs, Charlie Gjedde, who rapidly went from hero to villain at Berwick last year.

Derek Sneddon bravely returns to put his recently injured body on the line and he faces another very experienced rider new to Rockets colours, 32-year-old Jason Bunyan who has won the New Zealand title so often that it's easy to forget he hails from Milton Keynes.

Our rejuvenated and ever-smiling Dutch-born racer, Theo Pijper lines up opposite a very much less experienced opponent in the promising 21-year-old Anders Mellgren from Sweden who had spells as injury replacement at both Newport and Somerset last year.

Unflappable skipper Matthew Wethers is without doubt a rider who can have a big influence on the outcome of this tie. His opposite number is 28-year-old Ritchie Hawkins, son of former Peterborough star Kevin Hawkins, whose career has been marred by a succession of injuries.

Two former No.1 riders face each other at No.5 this week. Monarchs will be looking for a big score from their flying Scot, Andrew Tully when he lines up opposite 27-year-old Jordan Frampton from Poole who was displaced by the arrival of Gjedde but who will look to equally shine at Hoddesden.

There's a fascinating match-up at No.6 where young Micky Dyer looks to continue his excellent upward progress against a highly rated Manchester lad whom Monarchs would love to have signed last season as they cast around for scoring reserves, 18-year-old Jason Garrity.

Charles Wright has shown flashes of his true capabilities this season and he will have to try to nullify Rockets potential nuclear missile at No.7, the Rye House skipper now entering his eleventh season at Hoddesden, 26-year-old Luke Bowen from Harlow in Essex.

So it looks like two very evenly matched sides will be slugging it out for the chance to progress into the next round of the KO Cup. Track conditions will be an important factor since the Hertfordshire track is often dry and slick and this sunny weather could suit them in both legs.

This tie could well be decided by whichever side gets off to the best start because if the Rockets get their noses in front, Monarchs could find life really hard. However if the home favourites can show off their recently-acquired gating skills, they could easily shoot down these high-flying Rockets.

It should be a rip-roaring Cup tie with the potential for a great atmosphere,so make sure you get along to enjoy the very best in sunshine speedway - at last! Tapes up at 7.30 sharp.

Likely line-ups:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Craig Cook, Derek Sneddon, Theo Pijper, Matthew Wethers (capt.), Andrew Tully, Micky Dyer, Charles Wright.

RYE HOUSE ROCKETS: Charlie Gjedde, Jason Bunyan, Anders Mellgren, Ritchie Hawkins, Jordan Frampton, Jason Garrity, Luke Bowen (capt.).