Graversen v Cook in April Image Credit: Ron MacNeill

OLD FRIEND RETURNS WITH THE LIONS

NEWS Wednesday 28th September 2011, 6:16pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs race first-season team Leicester Lions at Armadale on Friday night, with the return the next day, and that means we will see our league winning Swede of 2003 Magnus Karlsson return in Lions' colours.

They have also signed Finland's Kauko Nieminen since we last saw them, and with Kauko having come third in the Premier League Riders' Championship last Sunday, the Lions clearly have a fine spearhead. The phase one matches between the sides both finished in away wins, and after last Friday's topsy-turvy match who can predict anything anyway? At least there should be no pesky guests!

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 30th September (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Kevin Wolbert, Kalle Katajisto, Andrew Tully, Matthew Wethers (capt.), Craig Cook, Adam McKinna, Kyle Howarth.

LEICESTER LIONS: Kauko Nieminen, Viktor Bergstrom, Ilya Bondarenko, Henning Bager, Magnus Karlsson (capt.), Jan Graversen, Jason Garrity.

ADAM RIDES: With Byron Bekker still not fit, Monarchs call in Adam McKinna to ride at no. 6 this week.

Adam of course is well known and has appeared many times but fans who went to Berwick for the Air Fence Challenge last Saturday can't fail to have been impressed by his 9 points in that meeting, including defeats of Lee Complin and Seb Alden.

That followed an excellent 6 points guesting for the Bandits the previous week. These performances prompted Andrew Tully to recommend that Monarchs use him this week.

Dudley's Tom Perry who tried so hard in last week's matches against Somerset is likely to be given further chances as well.

BUSY KEVIN: Kevin Wolbert was a match-saving hero for the Scotwaste Monarchs last Friday, then scored 7 points in the Premier League Riders Championship.

After that he headed off to Poole where he doubles up with the Pirates and scored a brilliant 9 points as they qualified for the Elite Playoff final on Sky TV.

The German champ is sure to be involved in the final against Eastbourne over the next fortnight.

His recent form for Monarchs has been brilliant, not least his two late wins last Friday which helped to salvage that last gasp draw against Somerset.

THE TARTAN ARMY: Although it wasn't strictly a Monarchs' match, Edinburgh were delighted to help out with Berwick's challenge match last Saturday which raised funds for the Shielfield Park Air fence.

Andrew Tully, Kalle Katajisto and former Monarch Ryan Fisher were in the side who beat the Bandits 50-43.

VERY DIFFERENT LIONS: Only ONE of the Leicester side who won 45-44 at Armadale in April, in one of the shock results of the season, returns this Friday. That is Jan Graversen, though Ilya Bondarenko was also a Lion at the time (he missed the match through injury).

Since then they have acquired a powerhouse top two in Kauko Nieminen and Magnus Karlsson, a very highly rated young no. 7 Jason Garrity (National League Riders' Champion!) plus Viktor Bergstrom and experienced Henning Bager.

It looks a good side and they recently won at Scunthorpe, though they can be unpredictable. Mind you, so can Monarchs.

LAST MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs got themselves into a dreadful mess, 19-31 down after heat 8, but fought back to secure a 46-46 draw. Kevin Wolbert top scored with 13 points.

NEXT WEEK'S MATCH: On Friday 7th October Newport Wasps, the league's most improved team, will visit Armadale for the final home Premier League match of the season. Wasps ride in the cup final against Glasgow this weekend.