TWO IMPORTANT LEAGUE MATCHES THIS WEEK

NEWS Wednesday 15th June 2011, 9:59pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs welcome Sheffield to Armadale this Friday in a Premier League fixture, and before that will travel to Redcar on Thursday.

There is bad news to report because last week's maximum man Kevin Wolbert will miss the matches due to injury, which has taken the Monarchs' management by surprise. James Grieves has been booked as a guest for Friday night with Leigh Lanham standing in at Redcar. For Sheffield Aaron Summers comes in for Josh Auty who is also injured. Riding at reserve for Monarchs will be Ashley Morris

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

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: James Grieves (guest), Matthew Wethers (capt.), Andrew Tully, Kalle Katajisto, Craig Cook, Lee Dicken, Ashley Morris.

SHEFFIELD WINDOW CENTRE TIGERS: Aaron Summers (guest), Emiliano Sanchez, Ricky Ashworth, Hugh Skidmore, Shane Parker, Ashley Birks, Simon Lambert.

WOLBERT INJURY: Monarchs' no. 1 Kevin Wolbert who has been riding so well at Armadale reported news of his injury on Wednesday which has given limited time to look for guests.

Fortunately James Grieves was on hand to pick up the Friday booking, and he has never let Monarchs down either as a full Monarch in 1999 or as a guest.

Wolbert's injury documentation will be here tonight or tomorrow, as is required. He is due to ride in a Grand Prix qualifier at Divisov on Saturday but that will now be in doubt.

KYLE BACK SOON: There is at least some better injury news. Young Kyle Howarth who injured a shoulder on 17th May will make his return in a National League match on Monday.

If that goes well, he will be back full time, though Monarchs don't have a home match next week due to the Premier League Pairs.

Welcome news indeed because Kyle had been riding and scoring very well.

REDCAR ON THURSDAY: It was at Redcar that Monarchs took their first away win of last season, having made a slow start to the 2010 campaign.

Of course we know that Monarchs went on to win the league.

AWAY FIXTURES: The next team match for the Scotwaste Monarchs will be on Monday 27th June, the second leg of the Spring Trophy at Glasgow (Monarchs lead by 2 points from the March first leg).

Two further away matches in the fixture list are Newcastle (10th July) and Workington (6th August).

MEETING SPONSOR: Sponsors of Friday night's match are the Hilton Edinburgh Airport Hotel, successful venue for the club's dinner dance last season and this.

TIGERS WILL BE TOUGHER: Monarchs beat Sheffield at Armadale earlier this season in the second leg of the KO Cup. However things could be different this time!

Although Josh Auty has had good meetings at Armadale, recently he has not gone as well and it would seem that the inclusion of Aaron Summers potentially strengthens them.

It's fair to say that Simon Lambert is likely to be a major danger man at reserve too. He has scored 18 points plus 5 bonus on two previous appearances this season, once guesting for Monarchs.

And then of course there is Shane Parker! It could be the great Australian's last appearance at the track, unless he rides in the Scottish Open (or possibly the two sides are paired together after the late season split). In 32 previous appearances, Shane has averaged 9.5 in that classic relaxed style of his. There has been no better regular visitor.

Sanchez, Ashworth and Skidmore are also more than capable and Monarchs face a difficult match.

LAST WEEK'S MATCH: Monarchs beat Glasgow 52-41 in the first leg of the Super Cup with Kevin Wolbert scoring 15 (5 wins). They lost on aggregate though with a disappointing performance on Sunday.

NEXT MATCH: The next home fixture for the Scotwaste Monarchs is on Friday 1st July against Newcastle, who have already won at Armadale this season.