SCOTTISH DERBY NEXT FOR MONARCHS

NEWS Tuesday 2nd September 2008, 7:40pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs finished last weekend at the top of the Premier League, but there is still a fair way to go starting this Friday with a visit to Armadale from the Buildbase Glasgow Tigers.

Tigers recently welcomed back to action their star performer Shane Parker after a lengthy absence, and on Friday Monarchs should follow suit as their top average man William Lawson is ready to return on Friday having been out since 4th July with a broken collar bone.

Assuming nothing untoward happens this week Monarchs will field their chosen 1-7 for the first time for two months.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 5th SEPTEMBER (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

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

GLASGOW TIGERS: Robert Ksiezak, Lee Dicken, Shane Parker (capt.), rider replacement for Josh Grajczonek, Trent Leverington, Mitchell Davey, Anders Andersen.

THE PREMIER LEAGUE: SOMERSET have 40 points from 24 matches and have the following matches left ? HOME v Mildenhall (5/9), AWAY v Birmingham (3/9), Rye House (6/9), Reading (8/9), Isle of Wight (9/9), Sheffield (11/9).

EDINBURGH have 43 points from 25 matches and have the following matches left ? HOME v Glasgow (5/9), Newcastle (12/9), AWAY v Redcar (11/9), Newcastle (14/9), Glasgow (TBA).

KING'S LYNN have 38 points from 27 matches and have the following matches left ? HOME v Isle of Wight (3/9), Reading (10/9), AWAY v Mildenhall (14/9).

Workington are now out of the picture though they can make the top four for the Playoffs. Edinburgh and Somerset are the teams best placed at present.

EDINBURGH TEAM IN McALLAN FAREWELL: An Edinburgh Select team will ride on Sunday in the David McAllan Farewell meeting at Ashfield. David has ridden for Edinburgh, Glasgow, Berwick, Newcastle and Workington but his career was ended last season following an accident.

The meeting is a 3-team event (Edinburgh v Glasgow v Workington) and the riders appearing for Edinburgh are (so far) Robert Eriksson, Derek Sneddon, William Lawson, Michael Coles and (!) Michal Makovsky.

The meeting starts at 4pm and proceeds from a special bus being run by Duddingston Private Hire will go David's Fund.

MEETING SPONSOR: Sponsors of Friday's meeting are Ritchie Brothers (Scotland) Ltd of Bathgate.

IMPROVING TIGERS: Glasgow have not had one of their better seasons, but they have shown improved form in recent weeks especially since the return of Shane Parker.

Robert Ksiezak has recovered from a poor start to the season, and Trent Leverington has been recording some big scores especially at home.

Neither would claim to be an Armadale expert but they will certainly see Friday's important fixture as a chance to improve their record.

Unfortunately Tigers have reported that their excellent Aussie rider Josh Grajczonek, who moves into the top five of the side for September, is out with a broken thumb. Rider replacement will cover for him.

TEAM SWAP: The September averages push Matthew Wethers down into the reserve berth while Andrew Tully comes back into the top five. It seems amazing that a rider going as well as Wethers can be at reserve but it should do Monarchs' prospects no harm.

Glasgow also swap riders with Anders Andersen dropping to reserve as Grajczonek moves up.

LAST MEETING: Monarchs beat Somerset by a remarkable 66-24 at Armadale last Friday, and went on to win by an equally amazing 57-36 at Stoke the following day. Best performance of the weekend was Thomas H Jonasson's 12 point maximum round Stoke.

NEXT MEETING: Monarchs are due to have their final home Premier League match against Newcastle at Armadale on Friday 12th September.