TOUGHEST TEST OF THE SEASON

NEWS Tuesday 11th September 2007, 8:32pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs will need to be at their best to prevent track specialists the Rye House Rockets winning at Armadale on Friday.

The points are important to both sides, with Rockets aiming for the Playoffs and the Monarchs for the Young Shield. Monarchs are closer to full strength than at any time since mid-May, with former hero Michael Coles guesting in place of the injured Tessari and all of the top five intact. Rye House use rider replacement for their Swedish star Stefan Ekberg.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 14th SEPTEMBER (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: George Stancl, Derek Sneddon, Kaj Laukkanen, Andrew Tully, Matthew Wethers, Kalle Katajisto, Michael Coles.

RYE HOUSE SILVERSKI ROCKETS: Chris Neath, rider replacement for Stefan Ekberg, Tai Woffinden, Tommy Allen, Steve Boxall, Luke Bowen, Adam Roynon.

PLAYOFFS / YOUNG SHIELD: Rye House are battling to make the top four Playoffs along with King's Lynn, Isle of Wight, Birmingham, Sheffield and perhaps one or two others, and would be greatly boosted by taking a win at Armadale.

The Rockets have been dominant at home but have earned some criticism for letting some of their away matches slip out of their grasp.

Monarchs' target is a more modest top twelve placing and their main rivals are Newport and Mildenhall, who both lost at home on Sunday.

A win on Friday and another on Saturday would give them an excellent chance of qualifying for the Young Shield, with just home and away matches against Somerset to follow.

ROCKETS' ARMADALE RECORD: Without doubt Rye House Rockets have in their ranks some of the most talented young riders in UK Speedway.

Because of the similarity between tracks, the Rockets find Armadale easy to ride and they have won their Premier League match at the venue four years running, 2004-2007.

Monarchs did win a cup tie against them in 2005, and also have fond if distant memories of doing the double over the Rockets in their own championship year of 2003.

BERWICK SATURDAY: Monarchs travel down the coast to Shielfield Park on Saturday evening to race Berwick Bandits, who have more than a few team problems to contend with. Monarchs will take nothing for granted!

SPONSORS ON FRIDAY: For the second time this season the Hampton Hotel (Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh) are meeting sponsors at Armadale on Friday. It's a venue recommended and frequented often by the club and its supporters.

ANOTHER EXCELLENT ROCKETS' LINEUP: It's a long time since Rye House have had anything other than a talented young side, and in spite of the early season loss of the brilliant Stuart Robson they have been obvious contenders for the league title right from the start of the season.

They had a head start on everyone with the inclusion of Tai Woffinden in their side on a 3-point average, and Tai (recently passing his 17th birthday) has lived up to expectations by rocketing to the top of his team's averages. He was a very impressive third in the Scottish Open on his Armadale debut.

Adam Roynon at reserve used to ride for the Dale Devils Conference League team and is seen as a real threat, while Chris Neath and Steve Boxall have gone very well at Armadale in the past.

Stefan Ekberg rides in Sweden on Friday in an Allsvenskan League playoff. Boxall, Allen and the reserves can take his rides. (Absence for the Allsvenskan playoffs qualifies for a rider replacement facility under a BSPA/Svemo agreement, unlike Swedish League fixtures).

COLES STEPS IN: Michael Coles was a Monarch from 1989-1993, topping the averages in his final season and for much of the time, making a weekly trip up from his native Exeter! Coles is with Glasgow at the moment, not the powerhouse he once was but ready to do his best as a reserve guest this weekend.

John Campbell has found booking guests something of a trial recently and said ?Even though Michael will have five meetings in five days, he agreed immediately. It will be good to see him riding as a Monarch again.?

LAST WEEK'S MEETING: The Bravehearts (mainly Scots) beat the Kangaroos (mainly Aussies) by 47-46 in a challenge match at Armadale last Friday. Kevin Doolan was the top individual on show.

NEXT WEEK'S MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs race Somerset Rebels (including Premier League Riders' Champion Magnus Zetterstrom) at Armadale on Friday 21st September, two days after the clubs meet at Somerset.