Wethers v Fricke on Wednesday night Image Credit: Ron MacNeill

GOING FOR THE SEMI

NEWS Thursday 24th July 2014, 4:59pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs and Berwick Bandits will battle on Friday night for the honour of racing in the semi-final of the Knockout Cup, with Bandits holding a 12-point advantage from Wednesday’s first leg.

It could go either way; Berwick’s record at Armadale isn’t great over the years but their current side are going well virtually everywhere and possess a good deal of experience on the West Lothian circuit. Unfortunately for the Bandits’ prospects they have to race without star reserve Matej Kus who must race in a Czech League fixture.

TEAMS FOR THE KNOCKOUT CUP QUARTER FINAL SECOND LEG AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 25th JULY (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Craig Cook, Justin Sedgmen, Max Fricke, Steve Worrall, Sam Masters, Aaron Fox, Derek Sneddon (capt.).

BERWICK BANDITS: Claus Vissing, David Bellego, Steen Jensen, Matthew Wethers, Kevin Doolan, Liam Carr, Nathan Greaves.

THE FIRST LEG: This was a very hard fought affair on Wednesday with Berwick going into a 10-2 lead after two races and always holding the upper hand.

All of their riders contributed and they may look on the eventual victory by just 12 points as a slightly lost opportunity.

Veteran Kevin Doolan was especially impressive and he is a man who has gone very well over the years at Armadale.

The missing reserve Kus has only a 4-point Armadale average after 7 visits with a highest score of 8, but he has been showing his best ever British form in recent months.

Monarchs didn’t have anyone at their best on Wednesday but fought hard, gaining five of the last six race winners, to gain an acceptable total, and they know what they are capable of at home – last week’s score of 63 against Workington providing evidence.

FOURS NEXT WEEK: There are no away matches for the team over the weekend although Craig Cook, Aaron Fox and Max Fricke were in the initial squads for their countries in the World Cup which starts at King’s Lynn on Saturday.

None of them is scheduled to be involved as things stand.

So the next action on the road will be Monarchs’ defence of the Fours title they won memorably at Peterborough last year. It is at the same venue on Sunday 3rd August (2:30pm).

Monarchs race in the qualifier against Workington, Redcar and Berwick. The quartet is due to be Cook, Masters, Fricke, Worrall with Sedgmen as reserve.

MATCH SPONSORS: Friday’s match is sponsored by Headlam Scotland, who have sponsored at least one match per season over a long period at Armadale. Their support is greatly appreciated.

IN-FORM BANDITS: Berwick are on course for their best season for a long time, and look like certainties for the end-of-season Playoffs. They have won three of their five away matches so far (both defeats coming at Newcastle!) with wins at Plymouth, Redcar and Workington. They had one bad night at home against Peterborough when everything went wrong and they were heavily defeated.

They showed on Wednesday how much they have improved since Monarchs won at Shielfield in an early-season League Cup match.

Claus Vissing and Matthew Wethers are of course former Monarchs, ten-year Monarch Wethers being about the craftiest rider we’ve ever had at Armadale if not the fastest. Kevin Doolan has also had many good nights there.

There’s no denying the absence of Kus is a handicap but the Bandits have the form and the confidence to make life tough for Monarchs unless the home side are at their best.

PAST RECORD: Edinburgh and Berwick have raced 7 times in the KO Cup, twice in a qualifying stage and 5 times at a knockout stage. Berwick have three victories to Edinburgh’s two at the knockout stages though Edinburgh did beat Berwick in the Cup Final in 1981.

1977, 3rd round: At Edinburgh 15/7 41-37, at Berwick 25/6 32-46, aggregate 73-83

1980, 2nd round: At Edinburgh 18/7 39-39, at Berwick 20/7 31-47, aggregate 70-86

1981, Final: At Edinburgh 6/11 55-40, at Newcastle 21/10 46-49, aggregate 101-89

1984, 2nd round: At Edinburgh 20/7 35-43, at Berwick 5/5 35-43, aggregate 70-86

1997, Qualifying: At Edinburgh 2/5 51-39, at Berwick 12/4 44-46

1998, Qualifying: At Edinburgh 15/5 57-33, at Berwick 2/5 38-52

2008, 1st round: At Edinburgh 25/4 54-38, at Berwick 26/4 51-42, aggregate 105-80

LAST MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs were one point short of their biggest win of the season when they beat Workington 63-29 last Friday. Craig Cook was unbeaten with Max Fricke also in double figures and everyone scoring at least paid 7.

HARRISON’S SCOTTISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP: Riders announced so far for the big individual event next week are Josh Grajczonek (Workington), Ulrich Ostergaard (Peterborough), Theo Pijper (Glasgow), plus home riders Aaron Fox, Justin Sedgmen, Derek Sneddon and Steve Worrall. Further announcements will be made daily from now ow.

Sponsorship of riders (£150) and heats (£250) will be invited with forms being issued at this Friday’s meeting. The holder of the title is Craig Cook.