VITAL THREE-MATCH WEEKEND

NEWS Tuesday 13th April 2010, 7:13pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs welcome Workington to Armadale on Friday in the Premier Trophy, then race away against the same opposition on Saturday, followed by Newcastle on Sunday.

Monarchs took four points out of six against Berwick last week but will need to be successful again this weekend to stay in contention for a semi-final place. Monarchs were Premier Trophy champions in 2008 and runners-up in 2009.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER TROPHY MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 16th APRIL (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Ryan Fisher, Jozsef Tabaka, Kevin Wolbert, Matthew Wethers (capt.), Andrew Tully, Max Dilger, Kalle Katajisto.

COMETS: Andre Compton (capt.), Richard Lawson, Chris Schramm, Peter Kildemand, Adam Roynon, Craig Cook, John Branney.

SECTION POSITION: There's still everything to go for in the northern section, and probably Workington are the only side not really in contention for a semi-final place.

Newcastle are on three away wins and a win and loss at home, and are probably favourites. Berwick have won two at home and one away but have taken two heavy beatings in Scotland.

Glasgow's win at Newcastle sits alongside a win and loss at home and they are still in with a chance.

Monarchs have had no away success and that would be the key to getting through, though of course they must also keep winning at home.

The actual table can be misleading given numbers of matches raced but it's still up for grabs and the points position is :

NEWCASTLE 12 points from 5 matches

BERWICK 8 points from 5

GLASGOW 6 points from 3

EDINBURGH 4 points from 3

WORKINGTON 0 points from 4

MAX WILL RIDE: Max Dilger is confident that he will be OK for the weekend's matches. He suffered a hand injury in a frightening crash last weekend when the carbon fibre bracket holding his forks broke and his bike split in two.

He said ?The hand is still swollen but it goes down every day and I am sure I will be riding.

?I will not be using the carbon fibre bracket again!?

TEAM AT FULL STRENGTH: Monarchs are scheduled to be at full strength for all three matches this weekend. Tapes go up at 6.30pm at Workington and also 6.30pm at Newcastle.

MATCH SPONSOR: Keyline Broxburn in association with Comets' team sponsors Thomas Armstrong are the match sponsors of Friday's Premier Trophy clash.

COMETS CAN IMPROVE: After winning a challenge match at Redcar, Workington have lost all four of the Premier Trophy matches so far.

Mind you they only lost their home fixtures by 1 against Berwick and 4 against Newcastle. But more importantly, they are mainly a young team and can certainly improve.

Their experience comes from Armadale specialist Andre Compton and Chris Schramm, who was a triple trophy winner with King's Lynn last year.

Their 20 year old Danish signing Peter Kildemand has been a big success, and he won the final two heats at Newcastle last Sunday. Richard Lawson and Craig Cook were two fine discoveries for the Comets last season, and Adam Roynon is another young British prospect just returning from injuries sustained a year ago while practising with the UK National squad.

Monarchs will probably expect to win but the match should be nothing like last week's one-sided affair.

LAST MEETING: Monarchs beat Berwick at Armadale last Friday by a massive 65-25 with Ryan Fisher, Kevin Wolbert and Matthew Wethers all unbeaten by the opposition.

NEXT MEETING: Monarchs race their final home match in the Premier Trophy against Glasgow on Friday 23rd April.

Full Result Details