Tigers take two points

At the end of another thrilling and dramatic Scottish derby, Glasgow were the happier team after taking a point for a draw and winning the Superheat to add the aggregate bonus point. The earlier match at Ashfield was also a draw of course.

From Monarchs viewpoint, having been six up at Ashfield with two heats to go, and four up at Armadale with two heats to go, they will be only too aware that they have let the lion's share of the points slip away.

Guests have played their part over both matches, and having had a disappointing guest in their home leg Tigers will have been thrilled by the display of Nick Morris who scored a five ride full maximum and also won the Superheat. He didn't always make the start but he was so powerful off the second bend and down the back straight that he went to the front every time.

They will give a pat on the back to their other guest Reid Battye at no. 7. The Berwick Aussie won his first ever race at Armadale and finished with paid 6.

There were many points won and lost along the way that might have made the difference. Monarchs tended to gate better but Tigers achieved more overtakes, with Chris Harris much to the fore as always.

With three heats remaining, Monarchs were two up and in heat 13, Kye Thomson gained the lead early on. Dan Thompson and Chris Harris fought a fierce battle for the second place with the Tigers' captain just taking it.

An advantage in heat 14 would have given Monarchs the victory and three league points, and for most of the race with Paco Castagna leading and Mitch Cluff third (after Battye had fallen) it seemed that would happen. However Kevin Juhl Pedersen did not give up and with a wide last corner he grabbed the win by a tyre. Paco admitted after the match that he had thought it was Cluff behind him.

Into the last heat and as he did all night, Morris worked his way to the front leaving Harris to tussle with the home men. It was a tough battle but he battled past both of them.

That set up a Superheat which seemed to be going Glasgow's way with Dan Thompson at the beck. Kye Thomson passed Harris for second but next time round got it wrong, hit the kerb and ran into Morris. In the melee Dan Thompson took a knock. Kye had to be excluded so the rerun was a formality, the only thing that's important in a Superheat being who is the non-scoring rider.

Mitch Cluff again had a fine match for Monarchs with paid 11 from reserve. After his struggles early in the season he has become an important man. He said "It's a tough one, a Scottish derby, to let it slip. I thought we would tie it up in heat 14 but Paco got done on the line and then we know what happened. Fair play to Bomber. For myself I'm happy with how I did but we win together as a team and we lose together as a team. We needed Jordy, I hope he'll be back soon."

Tigers in town for a crucial three-pointer

There is always excitement and tension when Glasgow Tigers visit Armadale and this week the stakes are even higher.

After battling to a draw last week at Ashfield, the third and fourth placed clubs are locked in a battle for the four play-offs places and the importance of the fixture has gone even higher after Edinburgh's disastrous trip to Poole on Wednesday.

The Monarchs were battered at Wimborne Road in more ways than one. A 52-38 defeat could have been even worse if it had not been for a sensational 14 points from Mitch Cluff, who won four races. To add injury to insult, the Monarchs lost teenager Jordy Loftus to concussion in his first race and then saw star man Kye Thomson suffer leg and hip injuries in another heavy crash in Heat 13. After a fitness test this morning, Kye has confirmed that he WILL ride on Friday night.

Getting tight at the top

The two points for Poole took them top of the league and a losing bonus point for Scunthorpe at Oxford, also on Wednesday, put them level on 18 points in second. With Edinburgh on 17 points and Glasgow on 16, a win for either on Friday would also clinch the aggregate point and push one of the Scottish teams into first place, although the loser would be left looking over their shoulder, with Redcar and Berwick lurking.

The Monarchs were disappointed not to win for a third time this season at Glasgow last week, having led by 6 points with two heats to go. Chris Harris was unstoppable as he bombed to a vintage maximum, supported by 12 from Leon Flint and paid 10 for Kevin Juhl Pedersen. A last heat 4-2 from Harris and Flint snatched the point but the real scunner for Monarchs fans was a 5-1 in heat 14 from Pedersen and Freddy Hodder over Paco Castagna and Mitch Cluff.

Changes for Tigers

With new averages applying in August, Sam Hagon will move up to number two for the Tigers, with Mario Häusl dropping down to reserve. The young German scored 1 point on his only previous visit to Armadale, but he has picked up an injury this week and will be replaced by Reid Battye of Berwick. The Aussie was enjoying a sensational introduction to British speedway before injuries ruled him out for a few weeks, but he was back on form with a brilliant 16+4 at Shielfield last Saturday. This will be Battye's first competitive visit to Armadale.

Tigers have so far been disappointed with the performance of the guests chosen to replace Kyle Howarth but they should be able to rely on Nick Morris, another Berwick man, who has consistently performed well at Armadale this year, including two excellent guest appearances in blue & gold.

Monarchs still unbeaten at home

The Monarchs enjoyed a rock-solid team performance last time out at home to Plymouth, in which every Edinburgh rider recorded at least two wins or paid wins and the lowest individual score was 6+2, as they extended their unbeaten home record in style.

It will take another massive all-rider effort to maintain that record this week. With young Jordy ruled out, Edinburgh will dip into their talented Academy team for a replacement. After an injury-hit start, Vinnie Foord has been performing credibly for Workington in the Championship this year and he will enjoy an opportunity to show what he can do at Armadale after scoring 13 points at King's Lynn on Thursday.

The news that Kye Thomson will bravely take his place in the side despite his injuries is a major boost for the Monarchs. The late-blooming Australian has been a breakthrough star this year and it would have been almost impossible to replace what he has brought to the team this season.

Jonatan Grahn was another who did not enjoy his trip to Poole. The smooth Swede was uncharacteristically point-less on Wednesday after racing on consecutive nights in Sweden's top league. He returned to form with 13+3 in another fixture for Solkatterna on Thursday, so he will be racing for the fifth time in five days on Friday. Despite the strain on the man and his machines, Jonatan will out to maintain his record of winning at least one heat for the Monarchs in every home meeting this year before taking a rest.

As ever, the Monarchs can rely on captain Paco Castagna to inspire his team, but it will take a big performance from the Italian and Aussie team-mates Sedgmen and Cluff to get the home side over the line.

Too close to call?

The two teams are very evenly matched, but Glasgow will be confident in their choice of guests and will fancy their chances. Another draw can't be ruled out - Monarchs have had five so far this season – so a 'golden heat' might also be needed.

With Poole due at Armadale next week, this is potentially a season-defining fixture for Edinburgh. After a rocky week for the home team and with a glint in the eye of the Tigers, the Monarchs will need every rider to rise up to the challenge of their rival and enjoy the thrill of the fight for the play-offs. It should be a knockout evening of speedway.

Friday 7th August: Edinburgh Monarchs v Glasgow Tigers, Cab Direct Championship, Armadale Stadium, 7:30pm

ROSS ECO TECHNOLOGIES MONARCHS: Dan Thompson, Jonatan Grahn, Justin Sedgmen, Paco Castagna (captain), Kye Thomson, Mitch Cluff, Vinnie Foord (guest).

ALLIED VEHICLES TIGERS: Chris Harris (captain), Sam Hagon, Nick Morris (guest), Kevin Juhl Pedersen, Leon Flint, Freddy Hodder, Reid Battye (guest).