TIGERS BACK IN BATTLE FOR SEMI

NEWS Wednesday 4th July 2012, 11:31am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs are looking for an overdue break from the weather to get on with their fixtures, starting with the second leg of the KO Cup semi-final against Glasgow at Armadale on Friday.

Monarchs grabbed a 2-point advantage in the first leg at Ashfield last Sunday and will be looking to complete the job against a Tigers' team bound to be determined to step up their game and make a fight of the tie. The winners will meet Ipswich in the semi-final, the Witches having knocked out Berwick with a spectacular away win last Saturday.

TEAMS FOR THE KNOCKOUT CUP QUARTER FINAL 2nd LEG MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 29th June (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Craig Cook, Derek Sneddon, Theo Pijper, Matthew Wethers (capt.), Andrew Tully, Micky Dyer, Marcel Helfer.

GLASGOW TIGERS: Joe Screen (capt.), Chris Mills, Josh Grajczonek, Filip Sitera, James Grieves, Jayden O'Malley, Mason Campton.

BRING YOUR PROGRAMME: The match programme used on Friday will be the same one issued for last Friday's postponed tie. So if you bought one then, bring it back!

Of course there will be additional copies available for those who didn't get one.

We should have racecards available for the Northern Junior League match Kumho Kings v Redcar which follows the cup tie, and is not in the main programme.

THE ASHFIELD LEG: Monarchs did very well in the first leg and gave surely their best team performance of the season, away from Armadale at any rate.

Their 46-44 success was their first away win of the season and ensures that Monarchs have won at least once away from home every season since 1966!

Scorers were: Craig Cook 11, Theo Pijper 11, Matthew Wethers 6, Andrew Tully 6, Derek Sneddon 5, Charles Wright 4, Micky Dyer 3.

THE RIDERS' VIEW: The unfortunate postponement of the Armadale leg came just minutes before the tie after it had been given every chance. Many opinions have been expressed, some critical, but just to show that even the riders had varying views, here are two of them:

MATTHEW WETHERS: "On Friday I would say the Edinburgh track was sort of on its limit when we arrived. It had taken a lot of water, and after the shower at about quarter past six was it, it was really quite iffy. When it rained again before start time I think it was the right decision to call it off. It was very disappointing."

THEO PIJPER: "On Friday I would have thought they would have waited because I was already changed and ready to go. If they had started half an hour later we could have raced, because the rain went off. We could have ridden, in my eyes. It would have been hard to ride but I think last year I came twice with Glasgow and it was really bad, so it couldn't have been any worse than that!"

MEETING SPONSORS: Friday's meeting will be sponsored by the Monarchs' team sponsors Scotwaste.

CAN TIGERS THREATEN?: Glasgow will have been very disappointed to lose their home leg in the tie after they had been showing some improved form.

Three of their riders did very poorly in the first leg and they will be particularly looking for improvement from Mills and Sitera, experienced riders in the second string berths who are capable of going much better.

If they can provide backup to the heat leaders Screen, Grieves and Grajczonek, who will need to be at their best, then we could yet be in a tight tie.

Mason Campton was a first leg hero for Tigers – he has had some decent rides at Armadale without having scored many points yet. One day, no doubt, he will do well, but when will that be? Monarchs of course have their new signing Marcel Helfer at reserve.

LAST MEETING: Nothing at Armadale since 1st June, a 56-37 win over Sheffield.

NEXT MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs will race Berwick Bandits in the Premier League at Armadale on Friday 13th July, and it will be only Monarchs' second home league match of the season.

Full Result Details