BANDITS ON FRIDAY: COULD IT BE THE LAST TIME?

NEWS Wednesday 16th September 2015, 9:43pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Border Roofing Monarchs race their old rivals Berwick at Armadale on Friday, the final pre-Playoff League match of the season for both teams. In fact it is the last match of any kind for Berwick this season.

Whilst we would always like to say “See you next year” as we have virtually every year since 1977, the Berwick promotion have been honest about their problems this year and have called for further investment or even the sale of the club. Their mainstay and skipper Kevin Doolan leads them into battle with recent signing Anders Mellgren and in-form guest Kenneth Hansen likely to cause Monarchs most problems.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 18th September (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

EDINBURGH BORDER ROOFING MONARCHS: Craig Cook (capt.), Justin Sedgmen, Kevin Wolbert, rider replacement for Erik Riss, Sam Masters, Max Clegg, Rob Branford.

BERWICK DIXON BUILDING SERVICES BANDITS: Kenneth Hansen (Guest), rider replacement for Claus Vissing, Ashley Morris (guest), Anders Mellgren, Kevin Doolan (capt.), Coty Garcia, Danny Phillips (guest).

PREMIER LEAGUE: The Premier Playoffs which will decide the League title again this year will line up as follows:

Sheffield v Peterborough, winners v Edinburgh

Glasgow v Plymouth, winners v Somerset

These quarter final pairings were decided by league finishing positions.

KNOCKOUT CUP: After last weekend’s matches we know that the Knockout Cup Final will be between the Border Roofing Monarchs (who beat Newcastle in the semi-final) and Somerset Rebels (who beat Rye House). Dates have still to be set between the teams who have contested the last two Premier Championship Finals, and who have finished first and second in this year’s table.

LEAGUE CUPWe will meet Glasgow in the Final of the League Cup, at Armadale on 25th September and Glasgow on Sunday 27th.

Ticketing arrangements and sponsorship opportunities can be seen on the club website.

ERIK’S TITLE CHASE: Erik Riss took the lead last weekend in the World Longtrack Championship, which he won brilliantly last year at the age of 19.

Therefore we have agreed to him heading off early for the practise at this Saturday’s venue at Morizes. Monarchs will use rider replacement for him on Friday.

Erik is two points clear on 53, ahead of Jannick de Jong on 51 and Theo Pijper on 47. We wish him well.

Also this weekend, Sam Masters and Kevin Wolbert race in the Golden Helmet at Pardubice.

SPONSORS ON FRIDAY: The match against Berwick on Friday will be sponsored by Linlithgow Tyres and Exhausts.

PATCHED-UP BANDITS: Berwick have no. 1 Thomas Jorgensen and Claus Vissing injured, Mathias Thornblom listed as ‘withholding his services’ and Richard Hall is, like Riss, away for the World Longtrack.

It’s probably not how they would have wished to line up if this were indeed to prove to be their last fixture, but certainly Hansen should do well alongside the consistent Doolan and 2012 PLRC runner-up Mellgren, with all eligible for rides in place of Vissing. Ipswich’s Ashley Morris comes in also and he has been in good form recently.

It will be an Armadale debut for Argentinian reserve Fernando ‘Coty’ Garcia.

Recently Berwick promoter John Anderson said of the Bandits’ future:

“We would welcome further investment from interested parties who might share our wish to see the sport remaining as a vital, irreplaceable part of a Saturday night out in Berwick-upon-Tweed and who might want to take on a part of our shareholding and stand beside us, working with and taking some of the load off the present directors and in time perhaps taking more and more control.

“Alternatively, we would be prepared to sell the company outright. Lock, stock and barrel to a new custodian who - and I make this clear - we feel could be trusted to serve the Bandits and their fans in the way of our honoured predecessors.”

LAST MEETING: The Border Roofing Monarchs beat Newcastle 56-34 in the first leg of the Knockout Cup semi-final. Kevin Wolbert, Sam Masters and Justin Sedgmen all scored double figures.

NEXT MEETING: On Friday 25th September we race Glasgow in the first leg of the League Cup Final.

Full Result Details