COMETS BRING THEIR BIG THREE ON FRIDAY

NEWS Tuesday 14th April 2009, 8:39pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs will know they have been in a match this Friday because the visitors Workington Comets have beyond doubt the strongest top three in the Premier League in Kevin Doolan, Adrian Rymel and Andre Compton.

The clashes between this trio and the top Monarchs ? which these days means most of them ? should ensure some further great speedway at a circuit where there has already been plenty. Both teams are well in contention for qualifying places in the Premier Trophy northern section but it will be tight between several sides.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER TROPHY MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 17th APRIL (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Ryan Fisher, Aaron Summers, Thomas H Jonasson, Andrew Tully, Matthew Wethers (captain), Michal Rajkowski, Sean Stoddart.

WORKINGTON COMETS: Kevin Doolan (captain), John Branney, Adrian Rymel, Charles Wright, Andre Compton, Luke Priest, Richard Lawson.

THAT TRIO: Workington knew what they were doing when they snapped up Kevin Doolan from King's Lynn and Adrian Rymel from Berwick, two of the highest average riders in the 2008 Premier League.

What wasn't planned was the addition of Sheffield no. 1 Andre Compton, but unfortunate injury to Adam Roynon virtually coincided with the announcement that Compton was reversing his previous retirement decision, so the Comets re-jigged their team to bring him in.

Whether they will have sufficient balance to be successful remains to be seen, but they will certainly provide a tough test for everyone on their travels.

All three of the heat leaders have excellent recent Armadale records, and their combined averages total 29.53!

TROPHY PROGRESS: The big result last week was the win by Redcar (carrying a number of ex-Sheffield riders) at Sheffield, taking 4 away match points.

Home wins are essential, away points gained will be the deciding factor between the teams in contention. Workington have no away points yet (from one match) while Edinburgh have 2.

Newcastle are probably the only side virtually out of contention for qualifying at the moment.

MEETING SPONSOR: Sponsors of Friday's meeting will be Edinburgh Speedway Videos who have been filming the Monarchs since the early eighties.

PATTERN ESTABLISHED: There's no doubt that the home riders will have to work hard to gain race wins on Friday with almost every heat containing at least one of the top three Comets.

So it isn't difficult to see what sort of match it will be ? as the Monarchs try to take points from the visiting heat leaders, while the Comets' second string department try to pinch enough points to back up their top men.

Charles Wright and John Branney have both had their moments at Armadale, not least in the KO Cup tie last September when Monarchs were eliminated at the semi-final stage, the only team trophy the 2008 Monarchs did not win!

At reserve Luke Priest is returning from injury, and Richard Lawson (son of Glasgow legend Steve) has been causing a lot of comment with some very steady scoring in his first season at PL level.

LAST MEETING: Monarchs hammered Newcastle by 64-26 last Friday with Aaron Summers and Ryan Fisher both unbeaten.

NEXT MEETING: Berwick Bandits, starring ex-Monarch William Lawson plus hard man Michal Makovsky, are the Armadale visitors on Friday 24th, which will also be the first of a series of Monarchs' Legends nights.