GREETINGS FROM UNCLE ‘B’ (LXIX)

NEWS Monday 21st July 2014, 8:32pm

by Brian Gray

  Edinburgh Monarchs

What a fun evening it was last Friday at Armadale when lots of you came along dressed as your favourite Superhero with the best presented with a VIP upgrade for the match!

We had a wide range of characters ranging from Batman to Wonder Girl and Ed's favourite – the amazing Bananaman! A big 'Thank You' to all of you who entered into the spirit of the night and made the event a tremendous success. I can reveal that there will be another amazing theme night on August 8th when the Newcastle Diamonds are in town. Full details will be released very soon!

While all the fun was going on, there was, of course, a speedway match! Sadly, it wasn't the close encounter that we were all expecting from Workington. On an off-night for the Comets, the Scotwaste Monarchs ran riot and notched up one of their biggest scores of the season so far with Cookie hitting yet another maximum. As we know, that was unbeaten match number 24 and we all trooped down to Berwick the next day looking for the next one but it was not to be as the match fell foul of speedway's bugbear – yes, the weather!

So, our attention this week is a home and away against Berwick in the quarter final of the Knock-out Cup. Re-scheduled for this Wednesday is the trip to Shielfield with the return on Friday. With the pressure now off us to win everywhere we go, a narrow defeat or better at Berwick would realistically give us a good chance of progressing to the semis. I'm sure the Bandits will have other ideas though and we need your vocal support at both matches.

Now, I've been looking at the Premier League table with a view to predicting who will qualify for the play-offs. The cut-off date is a bit away yet but it's starting to shape up. I'm more than happy to say that we won't be caught and will head the table at that point which means that we will get first pick of our opponents! With no offence to all the other teams, I can't see Rye House, Sheffield, Plymouth, Glasgow or Redcar making it. Also narrowly losing out will be Ipswich and Newcastle. That leaves Somerset, Berwick, Workington, Peterborough and Scunthorpe to join us! Nothing like sticking one's neck on the block! If I'm correct then I'd choose the Bandits and the Comets for our group. I've no doubt most of you will disagree with me so have a ponder and tell me your six and we'll see who's closest come the cut-off!

Or, let me know on Friday when you come in. I've always got time for a natter! So, until then, take care and be good! See you Friday.

Uncle ‘B’