16 POINTS TO PULL BACK

NEWS Wednesday 6th October 2010, 12:54pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs will attempt to retain the Scottish Cup this Friday by pulling back the first leg deficit of 16 points, with a guest replacement for the injured Andrew Tully.

The guest has still to be confirmed. Kevin Wolbert returns to Monarchs' team after an exceptionally successful Czech weekend. Glasgow will again use Mark Lemon to replace Joe Screen but otherwise should be at full strength.

TEAMS FOR THE SCOTTISH CUP 2nd LEG AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 8th OCTOBER (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Ryan Fisher, Matthew Wethers (capt.), Kevin Wolbert, Kalle Katajisto, guest replacement for Andrew Tully, Ashley Morris, William Lawson.

GLASGOW A-PLANT TIGERS: Travis McGowan, John Branney, Nick Morris, Josh Grajczonek, Mark Lemon, Jake Anderson, Lee Dicken (capt.)

ANDREW TULLY: It is a huge blow to have lost Andrew from the team for the remainder of the season. His broken right forearm was operated on last Monday and he is now out of Hospital.

A rule change brought in by the Promoters last winter prevents any change being made to the team it would have been difficult to find anyone anyway) so rider replacement will operate in the forthcoming KO Cup Final, with rides being shared by Kalle Katajisto (one) and the reserves.

FIXTURES: It isn't possible to finalise the forthcoming fixtures yet because the KO Cup semi-final between Newcastle and Birmingham has not yet started. The first leg should be part of a double header at Newcastle on Sunday.

If things go according to plan and the semi finishes at Birmingham next Wednesday, then it is likely that the Armadale leg of the Cup Final will be on Friday 22nd October.

There will probably be no meeting on Friday 15th October and the Cup Final would then be the last meeting of the season.

TWO FOURTH PLACES: Kevin Wolbert finished fourth in the third leg of the World Under-21 Championship at Pardubice on Saturday, which gave him eighth place overall in the series. He is now FINISHED with Under-21 events!!

Even more impressively, he came fourth in the Czech Gold Helmet on Sunday, beating Greg Hancock in the final with earlier victims including GP riders Andreas Jonsson, Kenneth Bjerre and Davey Watt!

MEETING SPONSOR: Sponsors of Friday's match are the Hilton Airport Hotel which is the venue for the Monarchs' Champions Dance on Saturday 6th November.

CUP UP FOR GRABS: With a 16-point lead and Andrew Tully missing Glasgow must start as favourites for the 2010 Scottish Cup, though Monarchs will obviously do their utmost to retain the trophy they have won so often in recent years.

Mark Lemon is a very consistent rider to book in as a guest, and a fast gater, which can also be said about their no. 1 Travis McGowan.

These two are guaranteed big scorers, but much may depend on Josh Grajczonek who has a patchy Armadale record so far, and his young fellow Aussie partner Nick Morris who is making his Armadale debut.

NEXT MEETING: It is expected that the next Armadale action will be the KO Cup Final against either Newcastle or Birmingham on Friday 22nd October.