Coty Garcia and Max Clegg will be important contributors Image Credit: Ron MacNeill

Knockout Blow

PREVIEW Thursday 25th August 2016, 8:18pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

So we go again as we look to welcome the Glasgow Allied Vehicle Tigers to Armadale for the 5th time this season in the 2nd leg of the KO Cup Quarter Final.

Of course 3 of the previous 4 attempts have been washed out in what has been the worst run of weather in the Monarchs history however the forecast looks a lot more promising for tomorrow as the Monarchs look to overcome a substantial 24 point deficit to try and progress to the Semi’s yet again.

Glasgow will travel east full of confidence of locking up their own place in the last four. The Tigers put together a powerhouse performance in the 1st leg at Ashfield at the end of last month and ran out 54-30 victors.

We have seen before though that the Monarchs are at their best when the chips are down and no one in the camp has given up yet but we all know the scope of the task ahead. The Tigers come into the meeting of the back of a shock result slipping up at home to Somerset last Sunday prior to this though they were on perhaps their finest form of the season and are still sitting pretty, guaranteed a playoff spot, in the last 4 of the league cup and with one foot in the last 4 of the KO cup. The Tigers are making the experts look good after being predicted to sweep the board at the start of the season.

Both teams know that the first few heats will be crucial and with that in mind Glasgow have shuffled their pack somewhat moving Rene Bach to number 2 to form a powerful spearhead with Aaron Summers.

Key to the outcome will no doubt be the lower orders. Glasgow fans and management have been delighted with the performances of the bottom end of Garcia, Lunna and Ayres and any points they score against the inform lower order of the Monarchs will go a long way to securing their qualification.

The most talked about rider in British Speedway at the moment is undoubtedly our number 7 Dan Bewley. Dan has been in scintillating form recently and is gaining plaudits everywhere he goes. His star turn being the turning point in that aforementioned Glasgow defeat last Sunday as he raced to 13 points guesting for Somerset. If Dan can carry this form into tomorrow night and be backed up by Max coming off the back off a paid 10 score for Wolves then things could get interesting.

Both teams are at full strength after Ryan declared himself fit despite being diagnosed with two broken bones in his foot he will ride on and our mercurial American will be a key man as we look for our top 4 to deliver the goods also.

With the Glasgow fans expected to travel in numbers an electric atmosphere on the terraces is assured and the action on the track promises to be just as exciting.

Edinburgh Border Roofing Monarchs

1- Sam Masters

2- Mark Riss

3- Erik Riss

4- Ryan Fisher

5- Kevin Wolbert

6- Max Clegg

7- Dan Bewley

Glasgow Allied Vehicles Tigers

1- Aaron Summers

2- Rene Bach

3- Richie Worrall

4- Fernando Garcia

5- Richard Lawson

6- Nike Lunna

7- Danny Ayres