PLAY-OFFS BEGIN IN SCOTLAND

NEWS Thursday 18th September 2014, 11:11pm

by Toby Lerone

  Edinburgh Monarchs

This year's Premier Play-offs begin in Scotland on Friday evening when the Scotwaste Monarchs entertain the Berwick New Holland Bandits.

The Play-offs are all about winning your home matches by at least seven points and then hope to pick up any kind of points away from home. With the top six in the league contesting the play-offs and three of those teams unbeaten at home this year, any team winning away from home would become red hot favourites for the final.

The Scotwaste Monarchs are at full strength but the Bandits are not so lucky. Steen Jensen took a heavy tumble recently and although he continued to ride thereafter he had now returned home for treatment to a groin injury. That journey home included a visit to a hospital in Holland on the way home!

Jensen's absence will be a blow for the Bandits. In their three visits to Armadale this season they have won only eight races and Steen won three of them. Rider replacement will cover for his absence offering rides to Kevin Doolan, David Bellego and reserves Alex Edberg and Matthew Wethers. Matthew is still getting back to his best after his big TV pile up.

Gates open at 6.30pm and with a big crowd expected everyone is asked to arrive early. We now offer the ability to pay by debit or credit card and anyone wishing to use this payment system should go to the advance ticket gate.