LEAGUE CUP FINAL: WHOSE TROPHY?

NEWS Wednesday 23rd September 2015, 6:51pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Border Roofing Monarchs defend their League Cup title on Friday and Sunday – and of course this year the opposition in the Final is provided by none other than Glasgow Tigers, who come to Armadale on Friday.

The return is at Ashfield on Sunday. Glasgow of course won on their last visit to Armadale – but then Monarchs won on their last visit to Ashfield! Both teams will be at full strength with Kauko Nieminen listed to return for the Tigers. This was one of the three main team trophies won by Monarchs in their incredible 2014 season.

TEAMS FOR THE LEAGUE CUP FINAL FIRST LEG MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 25th September (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

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

GLASGOW ALLIED VEHICLE TIGERS: Richard Lawson, James Sarjeant, Aaron Summers (capt.), Kauko Nieminen, Nick Morris, Victor Palovaara, Hynek Stichauer.

PREMIER LEAGUE: Monarchs will find out on Friday who their opponents will be in the Premier Playoff semi-final.

Peterborough are hot favourites having taken a 2-point advantage out of the first leg at Sheffield. The second leg is at Peterborough on Friday.

Monarchs’ home leg of the Playoff semi v Peterborough or Sheffield is scheduled for Friday 9th October.

The other semi-final is Somerset v Glasgow or Plymouth.

KNOCKOUT CUP: Dates are now known for the Knockout Cup Final between the Monarchs and Somerset Rebels. The first leg will be at Somerset’s Oak Tree Arena next Tuesday (29th) with the return at Armadale three days later, Friday 2nd October.

LEAGUE CUP: Edinburgh qualified for the League Cup Final by winning the northern section, then beating Ipswich in the two-leg semi-final.

Glasgow qualified as best runner-up over the three sections, then beat Sheffield in the semi-final.

It is only the second time the two clubs have met in a national final, the last one being the Knockout Cup of 1994 which was won by Glasgow.

CAMPBELL’S COMMENT: John Campbell, writing about the League Cup Final in Friday’s programme, says “Any match against the Tigers is a tough one and form doesn’t always come into it when deciding the winner. You’ve only got to look at the results from our league matches back in June to expect the unexpected.

“I really do hope that we enjoy two really great speedway meetings with large crowds to launch Scottish Speedway into a glorious future.”

SPONSORS ON FRIDAY: The first leg of the League Cup Final on Friday will be sponsored by the Mingers Rider Support Group.

STRONG TIGERS: This is surely the strongest lineup fielded by Glasgow this season with the return of Kauko Nieminen. In his only match for them previously this season, Nick Morris was replaced by a guest.

They can genuinely be called a team with four heat leaders, the Finn coming in alongside Nick Morris, Aaron Summers and Richard Lawson.

And they are far from weak in the other departments. James Sarjeant has had a lot of problems with his starting, regularly falling foul of referees, but when he settles down and rides as he is capable of, he has done very well.

World Under-21 Finalist Victor Palovaara has shown his liking for Armadale on several occasions, and he has won heat 2 on all four of his visits this season. So there’s a challenge for the home reserves.

And the no. 7 Hynek Stichauer recently scored double figures against Monarchs while guesting for Workington! So there appear to be no weak links and Monarchs will have to be at their very best to take a decent lead from the match.

LAST MEETING: The Border Roofing Monarchs beat Berwick 61-32 last Friday after a slow start. Craig Cook was unbeaten by the Bandits.

NEXT MEETING: On Friday 2nd October we race Somerset in the second leg of the Knockout Cup Final.

Full Result Details