SCOTTISH DERBY RETURN

NEWS Thursday 11th July 2013, 9:24am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs won at Glasgow last Sunday and now welcome the Tigers back to Armadale for the return this Friday.

There's a lot of experience in the Tigers' side especially with the return to the sport of Andre Compton. For Monarchs it is the start of a busy weekend which also sees them travel to Rye House for a League match and to Peterborough for the Premier Fours on Sunday.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 12th July (start time 7.30, doors open 6.15) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Craig Cook, Derek Sneddon (capt.), Theo Pijper, Jozsef Tabaka, Claus Vissing, Mitchell Davey, Max Fricke.

GLASGOW WESTERN COMMERCIAL TIGERS: Joe Screen, Jonas Raun, Henning Bager, Andre Compton, James Grieves, Joey Ringwood, Joe Jacobs.

KEY LEAGUE MATCHES: Both Premier League fixtures this weekend are important as Monarchs continue their bid for the Playoffs.

At the moment it looks as though the top seven clubs are pulling clear of the remainder – and there are just six Playoff places at the end of the season!

Workington, Redcar, Leicester, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Ipswich, Somerset are the clubs who seem to be in contention though there is still time for the others to make up ground.

Monarchs have matches in hand and are well placed in fourth, but it's going to be tight and every point counts.

Rye House have been beaten a couple of times at home already and Monarchs have a good record there, so they will travel with hope for Saturday's fixture.

FOURS ON SUNDAY: Monarchs last won the Fours in 1993 but they will try again ay Peterborough on Sunday.

Their qualifying group is a mighty tough one against Somerset, Leicester and Newcastle.

Monarchs line up with their top four in the averages (as at the qualifying date) which was Cook, Pijper, Vissing and Sneddon. Tabaka rides at reserve.

Theo will not be riding at Rye House as he has a World Longtrack meeting at Marmande on Saturday, but he returns for the Fours.

CRAIG'S BIG DATE: Craig Cook will be at the forefront of Monarchs' efforts over the weekend as always, but will then turn his attention to the biggest meeting of his career so far, the World Cup qualifier at King's Lynn on Monday.

We wish our top man well as he continues his thrilling progress.

Craig's further involvement in the World Cup obviously depends on Monday's result.

MATCH SPONSORS: We are delighted to welcome as sponsors of Friday's match Headlam Floorcoverings in association with ITEC, part of the IVC Group.

TIGERS LOOKING FOR FORM: It hasn't been a great season of results for Glasgow so far though they will come to Armadale feeling things can only get better!

Certainly over the years we have seen plenty of good performances from Joe Screen, James Grieves and Andre Compton, and there will be a lot of interest in Compton's performance especially.

He retired from speedway in 2010 but has recently decided to return at the age of 36. He is a former Premier League Riders' Champion and also Scottish Open winner from 2001.

Henning Bager is also an experienced rider and actually top scored for Tigers on Sunday.

Joey Ringwood has won a heat on each of his Armadale appearances so far, and for new signing Jonas Raun it is his first Armadale appearance for 6 years – he rode for Newcastle in 2007.

LAST MEETING: Last Friday Monarchs took a 48-42 advantage over Ipswich in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final.

NEXT MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs face Newcastle in another tough Premier League match at Armadale on Friday 19th July.

Full Result Details