THOMAS BACK FOR TOUGH WEEKEND

NEWS Tuesday 6th May 2008, 3:18pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs have done well on all fronts so far this season, but this weekend have a chance to start making their presence felt in the Premier League.

It will not be easy ? a home match against Reading (Armadale, Friday, 7.30pm) and a visit to champions Rye House will see Monarchs pitting themselves against two of the fancied contenders. Monarchs also go to Mildenhall on Sunday where the local Fen Tigers have been struggling ? though they recently celebrated a victory over local rivals King's Lynn. Thomas Jonasson returns to what is a full strength Monarchs' lineup.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 9th May (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Derek Sneddon (capt.), Ryan Fisher, William Lawson, Thomas Jonasson, Matthew Wethers, Andrew Tully, Aaron Summers.

READING RACERS: Mark Lemon (capt.), Chris Mills, Ulrich Ostergaard, Tomas Suchanek, Tom P Madsen, Jamie Smith, Ross Brady (guest).

GREAT START CONTINUES: Monarchs' record in all matches so far stands at 12 matches raced, 10 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat.

However team captain Derek Sneddon urges a cautious approach and no complacent thoughts.

He says ?Everything is going well but nobody is getting ahead of themselves, or looking too far in the future, because that's when things can go wrong.

?It's Reading this week and there's no way anyone will be relaxing and thinking we are going to win, we will continue to believe we are going to get a tough meeting.

?Ross Brady is guesting at no. 7 and he could turn his form round at any point ? I'm sure he would like to do it at Edinburgh.

?It's going to be a hard weekend ? Rye House is always a tough one but we would like to think we are in with a chance at Mildenhall.?

THOMAS SUCCESS: Thomas Jonasson swept all before him in the Swedish Under-21 qualifier, scoring a 15-point maximum at Nykoping. He now carries his campaign forward to the Nordic Final at Pori, Finland on 31st May.

William Lawson of course is also still competing in the event and his next stage is at Zielona Gora, Poland on 18th May.

The final is in October at Pardubice.

SPONSOR ON FRIDAY: Advance Engineering of Falkirk are the sponsors of Friday's home match against Reading.

EXPERIENCED RACERS: Last week's Armadale opponents King's Lynn provided interesting opposition, and a comparison would suggest that Reading could be even tougher.

For one thing they have the current highest average rider in the Premier League, Ulrich Ostergaard, the only rider carrying an average above 11.

Added to him, experienced Aussie Mark Lemon has had plenty of profitable meetings at Armadale.

In fact experience is evident throughout the side, with useful backup from Czech Tomas Suchanek, Dane Tom P Madsen who is an Armadale specialist, and Englishmen Chris Mills and Jamie Smith.

And by no means least, Glasgow's Ross Brady comes in as a guest for the injured Danny Warwick just at a time when Ross's form is showing a definite upturn.

DIAMOND JUBILEE WEEKEND: A few tickets are still available for the Saturday night party at Tynecastle Stadium prices ?8. This follows the Friday night meeting at Armadale to which all former Monarchs' riders are also invited.

A separate release will be sent out shortly with an update of plans for these events.

LAST WEEK'S MEETING: Monarchs beat King's Lynn 54-39 on a fine night with some excellent racing. Top Monarchs was William Lawson with 14 points.

NEXT WEEK'S MEETING: This is the Diamond Jubilee Celebration event and in addition to the home riders, former Monarchs James Grieves, Robert Eriksson, Theo Pijper, Robert Ksiezak and Ross Brady are confirmed starters so far.

Full Result Details