HOME AND AWAY AGAINST PLAYOFF RIVALS

NEWS Wednesday 5th September 2012, 10:45am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs currently hold sixth place in the Premier League which puts them in a qualifying position for the Playoffs – but this week sees them race home and away against Ipswich, who appear to be their main rivals for the place.

Monarchs are still without key men Cook and Tabaka, injured in that disastrous 24 hour slot in mid-August, but they put their faith in guest riders Thomas Jorgensen and Mason Campton (Thursday at Ipswich) and Aaron Summers and Micky Dyer (Friday at Armadale) to build on the great effort at Berwick last Saturday, a remarkable away victory.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 7th September (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

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

IPSWICH WITCHES: Leigh Lanham, Dakota North, Taylor Poole, Morten Risager, Rohan Tungate, Matt Tresarrieu, Stefan Nielsen.

PREMIER LEAGUE: The five leading teams in the division are virtually assured of a Playoff place – current points Somerset (42), Scunthorpe (41), Leicester (41), Newcastle (40) and Workington (35).

The Comets may be looking anxiously over their shoulders as they have been crippled by injury problems, and have tricky matches still to be raced.

Edinburgh are sixth on 30 points but like the Comets they are missing key men which makes life much harder, especially winning home matches which would normally be regarded as fairly easy ones.

Ipswich are right on Monarchs' tail with 29 points while Glasgow have 27, the Tigers having the benefit of a full team available.

ADMISSION NEXT FRIDAY: There is another double header coming up next Friday against Glasgow and Rye House, and prices for that meeting will not be as high as for the first double header last Friday. The on-line advance prices are: Adults £23, Seniors etc £18, Child 12 – 15 £8, Child under 12 with advance ticket holder free. These are available on-line at www.edinburghmonarchs.co . The walk-up prices on the night are slightly higher, £25, £20, £10 and £1 respectively.

INJURIES: There's not a lot of new news on Monarchs' injured duo, though it is hoped that both will be back by the end of the month.

Jozsef Tabaka is due to have his plaster removed on 25th September, so will not return before that, but has targeted Friday 28th for a return if healing has proceeded sufficiently.

Craig Cook has qualified for the Premier League Riders' Championship at Sheffield on 23rd September and would love to be fit to return that weekend.

WITCHES COMING GOOD: Ipswich have suffered from injuries and inconsistency this season, but in recent weeks have steadied up considerably and started to show their full ability.

Surprisingly they have lost three home matches, but last Saturday they matches Monarchs' feat of scoring 50 in an away match to move onto Monarchs' tail in seventh place in the league.

Recently they brought Taylor Poole back into their team, and after struggling badly for a couple of weeks he has regained his form.

Another Aussie, Rohan Tungate, has been probably the best newcomer of the season and is just 0.1 off the top of Ipswich's averages, in a team which has no riders averageing over 7 but five over six!

Leigh Lanham gives added experience at no. 1 while there are three riders making their first appearance at Armadale, Dane Morten Risager, Rohan Tungate and NL guest Stefan Nielsen, who has already been scoring well for the Witches.

LAST MEETING: The double header against Scunthorpe and Redcar was seriously marred by yet more Friday bad weather. Monarchs lost 39-54 to Scunthorpe and beat Redcar 52-29 (match abandoned after 13 heats).

NEXT MEETING: On Friday 14th September Monarchs stage their second double header in recent weeks, against Glasgow Tigers followed by Rye House Rockets.

Full Result Details