Title Partner
NEWS Wednesday 10th May 2017, 12:12pm
Edinburgh Monarchs
It’s the biggest match of the season so far for the Parsons Peebles Monarchs this Friday as we welcome the Glasgow Tigers to Armadale in SGB Championship action.
The Monarchs will go into this clash sitting top of the table (dependent on Ipswich not winning by 50 at home to Redcar on Thursday) but the Tigers will be aware that a victory could also take them to the top and while the season is only around a quarter of the way through this match will be an early marker of both teams title credentials.
While the home men have enjoyed an excellent start to the season one result still grinds at the Monarchs camp and that is their 57-34 capitulation at Ashfield last month. This was a result that left Monarchs riders and management alike seething and they will be looking to make up for this on Friday.
The key battles in this match may well be at the top end of the team. The Tigers head east sporting what many consider to be the strongest top 3 in the league.
Aaron Summers, Richard Lawson and Richie Worrall all battle for the number 1 slot for the Tigers and all are currently averaging more than 9 points per match for the season.
Monarchs American sensation Ricky Wells is well aware of this stating ‘Glasgow gave us an absolute hiding the other week; I’ll be the first one to say that. Me and Sam (Masters) both weren’t starting well but Glasgow’s top 3 are all trappers they are all lightning out the gate. We are looking forward to facing them though hopefully we will get a packed crowd and we can give them a hiding like they gave to us. Ritchie Worrall is the man to watch for me on his day he is very quick and can make good starts. It will be a tough match but I think our top three need to beat their top 3 and we will be ok. It’s good that we are both at the top of the Championship and I’m glad to be a part of it.’
After the absence of Mark and Erik Riss over last weekend was a hindrance the Monarchs are glad to be back to full strength and with Josh Pickering continuing to ride through the pain barrier it is a full strength Monarchs side that will take to the track.
Unfortunately Glasgow will be missing exciting Finnish prospect Nike Lunna. Lunna suffered a broken thumb in a crash against the Monarchs at Ashfield and is still a few weeks away from returning. Rider replacement will operate in his place with Richard Lawson, Dan Bewley and the Tigers reserves being eligible for a ride.
We have been made aware of some speedway traffic parking in local residential areas particularly Mallace Avenue behind the stadium. This is causing the residents issues as the Monarchs pride themselves on being considerate neighbours and part of the Armadale community we would please ask that all fans park in one of the official car parks.
Teams for the SGB Championship match at Armadale on Friday 12th May (start time 7:30pm, gates open 6:30pm), are:
PARSONS PEEBLES MONARCHS: Sam Masters (capt.), Josh Pickering, Erik Riss, Max Clegg, Ricky Wells, Mark Riss, Mitchell Davey.
GLASGOW ALLIED VEHICLE TIGERS: Aaron Summers, Nike Lunna r/r, Richard Lawson, Dan Bewley, Richie Worrall, Tom Perry, Jack Smith
TIGERS LOOKING TO ROAR: Glasgow are a powerhouse outfit and will be looking to lay a marker down this Friday. The Monarchs have seen the form the Tigers top 3 are in this season with Richie Worrall and Richard Lawson guesting at Armadale recently. Aaron Summers is of course an ex league winning Monarch and is rediscovering his best form after some machinery problems dogged his first few meetings of the season. Another ex-Monarch Dan Bewley had his best ever Championship display in the return fixture at Ashfield and Tom Perry and Jack Smith are finding their feet at the bottom end and will provide a test.
LAST MEETING: The Parsons Peebles Monarchs moved back top of the SGB Championship comfortably defeating the Workington Comets 52-40. Top scorer for the Monarchs was Ricky Wells with 14 he was ably backed up by Sam Masters recording a paid maximum with 11+1 and Erik Riss with 9+1. For the Comets top men were Thomas Jorgensen with an impressive 13 and reserve Matt Williamson showing the strides he is making this year with 9.
NEXT MEETING: Another tough one as the Newcastle Diamonds head up the A1. The Diamonds are headed by Armadale experts Steve Worrall, Robert Lambert and Ludvig Lindgren and another exciting encounter awaits,
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Bathgate Road
Armadale
EH48 2PD
