FIRST-EVER DOUBLE HEADER AT ARMADALE

NEWS Wednesday 9th September 2009, 7:29pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

It's an Armadale first this Friday as the Scotwaste Monarchs take on, in the one night, Rye House Rockets in the first leg of the Knockout Cup semi-final followed by the Stoke Potters in the Premier League, the show starting sharp at 7pm.

Things will have to go smoothly! 30 races in 3 hours is good going but with the co-operation of the visiting teams and the referee it can be done. Rye House, like Monarchs twice PL Champions this decade, are traditionally strong opposition at the Scotwaste Arena while the Potters have qualified for the Young Shield and are having a decent year.

TEAMS FOR THE KNOCKOUT CUP SEMI-FINAL FIRST LEG AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 11th September (start time 7.00, doors open 6.00) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Ryan Fisher, Max Dilger, Kevin Wolbert, Matthew Wethers (captain), Michal Rajkowski, Aaron Summers, Byron Bekker.

RYE HOUSE SILVER SKI ROCKETS: Chris Neath, rider replacement for Robert Mear, Joe Haines, Luke Bowen, Linus Sundstrom, Tommy Allen, Andrew Silver.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 11th September (following the cup match) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Ryan Fisher, Max Dilger, Kevin Wolbert, Matthew Wethers (captain), Michal Rajkowski, Aaron Summers, Byron Bekker.

STOKE POTTERS: Jason Bunyan, Tom P Madsen, Klaus Jakobsen, Lee Complin, Robert Ksiezak, Craig Branney, Jesper Kristiansen.

ROCKETS FIRST: We can confirm that Rye House will be the first match on Friday followed by Stoke. Strict application of the rules would mean that the league fixture (Stoke) comes first, but by agreement with both visiting promotions it will be the Cup semi on first.

The key factor is that the Rye House riders and management have a home fixture the following day way down south while the Potters have only to get to Berwick for a Saturday night fixture there.

Admission prices for Friday's big event are ?22 for Adults, ?17 for OAPs and ?7 for children.

STOKE ON SUNDAY: The Scotwaste Monarchs ride at Stoke on Sunday in a Premier League match (start time 7.30pm). They will be without Kevin Wolbert and Max Dilger who ride in the German Under-21 Championships (Max is the defending champion).

Berwick captain Paul Clews will ride as a guest for Dilger with rider replacement covering Wolbert's absence, with everyone in the team qualifying for a ride.

MATCH SPONSOR: Niven Munro was one of the early junior riders at Powderhall, becoming a fan and then trying his luck on a bike.

It didn't prove to be the route to fame and fortune for Niven but he had a go before returning to more conventional ways of making a living. He has maintained his interest in the sport however and with friends and colleagues will be sponsoring Friday's meeting and enjoying the Armadale Hospitality.

RYE HOUSE - TRACK SPECIALISTS: Few teams have a better Armadale record than Rye House whose own track has similar dimensions. It hasn't been a vintage year for the Rockets with injuries very much to blame, notably the lengthy absence by young starlet Joe Haines who was out for several months with a serious neck injury. Happily he is now back and riding well.

They also have Luke Bowen just back from an arm injury, and 18 year old Swede Linus Sundstrom is another just recovered from injury. He is a potential race winner everywhere.

So the only rider missing for the Rockets is Robert Mear, another talented youngster for whom rider replacement will cover.

Chris Neath at no. 1 has had several good meetings at Armadale, and the amazing Andrew Silver (back in action at 42 this year after a 15-year absence!) went very well and entertained royally on the Rockets' earlier visit in the league.

GOOD YEAR FOR POTTERS: There is an obvious threat from star men Jason Bunyan and Lee Complin but a careful eye will have to be kept also on the Potters' Danes Klaus Jakobsen and Jesper Kristiansen. Klaus performed well on his previous visit, and won four heats during his team's draw at Newport last Sunday.

Kristensen has been knocking in big scores since recently dropping into the reserve berths.

There is plenty of experience elsewhere too with Tom P Madsen having ridden at the highest UK level, and ex-Newcastle Craig Branney having plenty of Armadale outings under his belt.

Of course ex-Edinburgh and Glasgow Aussie Robert Ksiezak, somewhat inconsistent in recent times, could also be a threat.

Monarchs are keeping up their challenge for a Playoff place and would be very keen to take all three points. At the end of a 2-match marathon it will not be easy.

LAST MEETING: Monarchs did brilliantly to take six points from two league matches against Workington and Somerset on successive days last weekend. The weather was appalling but the team applied themselves brilliantly.

They beat the Comets 55-39 with Kevin Wolbert and Aaron Summers on 13 each, and the following day Aaron was tops again with 10 in the curtailed 42-33 victory.

NEXT MEETING: Another double header! On Friday 18th September the visitors in two Premier League matches are Berwick and Redcar.