CHANGES FOR MONARCHS IN FINALE

NEWS Tuesday 3rd October 2006, 10:00am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs hope that the weather will permit the staging of their final home meeting against Glasgow Tigers in the Scottish Cup this Friday.

Last Friday's match was washed out as Friday proved once again the wettest day of the week. The home side will be missing Matthew Wethers (injured) and Daniele Tessari (winter work commitments) and call in Redcar duo Kevin Little and Chris Kerr. Glasgow field their familiar full-strength team in a weekend in which their riders will contest three different competitions.

THEO WILL RIDE

It looked early in the week that Monarchs' captain Theo Pijper would be missing from this weekend's action, but fortunately the Armadale track record holder has rearranged his commitments and will line up on Friday, and also in the Premier Pairs at Glasgow on Sunday.

He has had to withdraw from a French Championship commitment on Sunday, with assistance from officialdom.

He explained ?The deal was that I missed the qualifying rounds as long as I competed in the Final, which is on Sunday.

?When I thought our home matches were over I arranged to travel to France with the family after the Pride of the East at King's Lynn on Wednesday.

?However now I am staying and will be riding for Monarchs.

Monarchs enlisted some help from officialdom in smoothing the way for Theo's withdrawal.

PAIRS ON SUNDAY

Theo Pijper and William Lawson will be the Edinburgh pair in the Premier Pairs at Glasgow on Sunday (3pm).

This is the restaging of the event after a rain-off earlier in the season, when Rusty Harrison was paired with Pijper.

Other teams in their section are Sheffield, Newcastle, Rye House and King's Lynn.

SPONSOR ON FRIDAY

Last Friday's sponsors Headlam Floorcoverings and Forbo Flooring (Kirkcaldy) unfortunately can't return this week but hope to back an early meeting next season. Keyline Broxburn will be Hospitality visitors.

TEAMS FOR THE SCOTTISH CUP MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 6th October (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

EDINBURGH SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Theo Pijper (capt.), Henrik Moller, Chris Kerr, Kevin Little, William Lawson, Sean Stoddart, Derek Sneddon.

GLASGOW PREMIER TRAVEL INN TIGERS: Danny Bird, David McAllan, Lee Dicken, Kauko Nieminen, Shane Parker (capt.), Robert Ksiezak, James Cockle.

FAMILIAR TIGERS: Glasgow have gone through the season with almost no changes in their lineup, and it is the familiar septet racing at Armadale on Friday.

Having been knocked out of the Premier League playoffs at the quarter final stage, they will be hungrier than ever to do well in the Scottish Cup, on a weekend when they also contest the Premier Fours at Workington (Saturday) and Premier Pairs at Ashfield (Sunday).

Realistically they are amongst the favourites for both the Fours and of course the Pairs on their home track.

With Monarchs fielding an unfamiliar middle pair, Tigers have perhaps their best chance of the year of an Armadale win, which they haven't managed on their three previous visits.

LAST WEEK'S MEETING: The first attempt to stage the Scottish Cup first leg was rained off last Friday.

THE FINAL MEETING: Friday's match brings the curtain down for speedway at Armadale this summer. Weather permitting, this is the final regular press release though there will be news items issued during the winter.