BACKS TO THE WALL FOR THE SCOTWASTE MONARCHS

NEWS Tuesday 1st May 2012, 5:21pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs complete their League Cup qualifying campaign with matches against Berwick home and away on Friday and Saturday, and regrettably Monarchs will be weakened by the absence of two key riders.

Derek Sneddon (broken collar bone) and Charles Wright (battered and bruised) were involved in a nasty double pileup at Ashfield on Sunday and won't be riding, which means that the rider replacement which can operate for Derek will be restricted to rides for Wethers, Micky Dyer and the National League rider we are permitted as replacement for Charles. It makes even the home match a very tough proposition.

TEAMS FOR THE LEAGUE CUP MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 4th MAY (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Craig Cook, Rider replacement for Derek Sneddon, Theo Pijper, Matthew Wethers (capt.), Andrew Tully, Micky Dyer, A N Other.

BERWICK: Ricky Ashworth, Lubos Tomicek, Lee Complin (capt.), David Bellego, Seb Alden, Adam McKinna, Jason King.

INJURY NEWS: News on the injuries was bad early in the week. Derek Sneddon has a broken right collar bone and a small fractured bone in his right foot. "The foot isn't really a problem," he says, "I can hobble around on it and I'd be able to ride with it.

"My boot was almost ripped off in the crash. My arm is in a sling and I'm on pain killers, though they are not working and I didn't get any sleep on Sunday night. I was seeing the doctor to change the medication."

Typically Derek is already thinking of his return to action. "I know we have Ipswich in the league at Armadale a week on Friday and that's my target to get back. However I'm not going to do anything stupid.

"I'll have to get my bike back in one piece as well, that's another mess."

Charles Wright has been relatively fortunate and has no broken bones. On Monday he said "I'm just a bit sore and have a very painful shoulder. I know I went over the handlebars but I can't remember very much about the crash at all.

"I never seem to end up breaking anything in these bad crashes, it's the simple ones when I break a wrist or something.

"I'm seeing my doctor tomorrow but I've had three bangs on the head in three weeks and I think I will be sitting out this weekend. When I've come back too quickly before I've ended up making myself worse."

AWAY MATCHES: The Scotwaste Monarchs race at Berwick on Saturday (start time 7pm, League Cup), and at Scunthorpe on Monday (start time 3pm) in the Premier League.

Rider replacement will operate for Derek Sneddon. A National League rider will stand in for Wright on Saturday and Sunday and a Premier League guest on Monday.

BANDITS CHANCE: Berwick are unbeaten at home in the League Cup and an away win on Friday might see them challenging for a semi final place.

The Bandits do not have a good record at Armadale but they are unlikely to have a better chance than this week with the Monarchs' team weakened.

Bandits' heat leaders Ricky Ashworth, Seb Alden and Lee Complin are in fine form and will certainly test the top Monarchs, who can't afford many slip-ups.

Lubos Tomicek has also been going well for the Bandits, and former Newcastle no. 1 Jason King must fancy his chances at reserve in the circumstances.

Adam McKinna replaces Alex Edberg who is away in a Swedish Under-21 meeting.

MONARCHS' TEAM CHANGE: With new averages applicable from 1st May Craig Cook moves to no. 1 in the team, as he tops the averages on 7.75. Andrew Tully (7.48) moves to his old position at no. 5.

The new averages are: Cook 7.75, Tully 7.48, Pijper 6.40, Wethers 6.36, Sneddon 5.66, Dyer 5.00 and Wright 3.88. From Sunday Dyer drops to 3.00.

LAST MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs easily beat Glasgow 61-33 last Friday with Craig Cook scoring a full 15 point maximum, and Andrew Tully (13) also unbeaten by the opposition.

NEXT MEETING: The first home Premier League match next Friday, May 11th, is against title favourites Ipswich Witches.

Full Result Details