NO LETUP FOR THE SCOTWASTE MONARCHS!

NEWS Wednesday 17th July 2013, 7:34pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

It's another tough week for the Scotwaste Monarchs as they battle with the other leading clubs for places in the Premier League playoffs.

On Friday they will once again face Newcastle Diamonds at Armadale, and before that they travel to Redcar on Thursday. Of course both of these teams won at Armadale recently! Because Craig Cook has been left out of Team GB for the World Cup Playoff, the no. 1 will be available for the Thursday match and the team will be at full strength.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 19th July (start time 7.30, doors open 6.15) are:

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

NEWCASTLE SAPPHIRE ENGINEERING DIAMONDS: Stuart Robson (capt.), rider replacement for Christian Henry, Andrew Tully, Ludvig Lindgren, Richie Worrall, Chris Schramm, Lewis Kerr.

KEY LEAGUE MATCHES: Once again this week's matches will have a bearing on Monarchs' chances of reaching the Playoffs.

The team have been going well but so are all the other leading teams in the league this season!

Workington, Redcar, Edinburgh, Ipswich, Leicester, Newcastle, Somerset is the current order of the top seven, though with unequal numbers of matches raced.

Nobody would be likely to rule out either Newcastle or Somerset from a Playoff place so the teams above them will have to watch out!

ADDITIONAL FIXTURES: There are some new dates for the fixture list in this very busy season.

The Scotwaste Monarchs will be at Glasgow on Sunday 11th August in the second leg of the Spring trophy, in which Monarchs hold a 28-point advantage.

The dates for the KO Cup semi-final against Somerset will be: Tuesday 27th August at the Oak Tree Arena, with the return at Armadale on Friday 30th August.

The restaging of the previously postponed Premier League visit to Workington, for which there will again be a free bus, is to be Monday 9th September, the only date which was suitable to both sides.

TROPHY PARADE: Although the team will be fully concentrating on the match in hand on Friday night, they will of course be parading the Fours Trophy so excitingly won on Sunday evening.

On behalf of the team John Campbell said "The riders have specifically asked me to thank all who made the long trip to Peterborough, endured the longest speedway meeting you have probably ever witnessed and enjoyed one of the hottest days you've ever experienced in the UK to give the boys your marvellous support."

MATCH SPONSORS: This Friday's match will be sponsored by Kumho Tyres and Linlithgow Tyres and Exhausts who will take over the full Armadale Hospitality area for the night.

DIAMONDS HAVE CONFIDENCE: It's no secret that Newcastle go to every meeting expecting to get a result, and the team they have justifies that confidence. They have scored at least 44 points in six of their away matches this season, only failing to reach that mark at Somerset, and they have won three times.

They look particularly formidable at Armadale and although they won 45-44 on their KO Cup visit, they were far from satisfied with that and thought they should have won by more!

While no-one would be happy to have a rider missing, unlucky Christian Henry's injury does not appear to weaken them for this match. He scored just 3 on his last visit and his rides can be shared by Tully, Lindgren, Richie Worrall and Kerr!

They don't appear to have a weakness. At no. 7 Lewis Kerr has been one of the sensations of the season in his debut Premier League year, and they have added the experience of battling Chris Schramm on a ridiculously low average since their last visit.

There's no doubt that the Scotwaste Monarchs will need to be at their best.

LAST MEETING: Last Friday Monarchs comfortably beat Glasgow 62-30, the biggest win of the season. Jozsef Tabaka scored a full five ride maximum – just as he drops to reserve this week!

NEXT MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs race against Berwick Bandits at Armadale on Friday 26th July, the border club's second visit of the season.

Full Result Details