Monarchs v Tigers is as big as it gets

NEWS Wednesday 26th June 2019, 5:00pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

This Friday's match at Armadale is one of the main events of the Scottish season every year – the Championship fixture between the two Scottish giants, Monarchs and Tigers.

Tigers have already won at Armadale in the Championship Shield, clinching their semi-final place – though they also did that last year then lost in the league fixture. On current form, though, the team from the west will clearly fancy their chances. They are unbeaten in the competition with two home wins and one away, while injury-hit Monarchs have had two home wins and two away losses.

Coming in to the Monarchs lineup is Connor Coles, injury replacement for Luke Ruddick, and guest Kyle Howarth who stands in for Josh Pickering whose comeback last Friday lasted just over a lap.

Tigers are at full strength and field their new young Aussie Connor Bailey, coming to Armadale for the first time.

Club chairman Alex Harkess said "Glasgow will consider themselves to be favourites, quite rightly so because they have been doing better than we have. Whilst we are unbeaten at home in the league, it has been a hard struggle in the two home matches that we've had. We will do very well to maintain our record tonight.

"If all our riders perform as they could and should I am sure it will be a very good match and I hope we will come out on top. Glasgow will hope to leave with something, we hope they don't, simple as that."

The return fixture is at Ashfield on Sunday.

Friday 28th June: Staggs Bar Monarchs v Glasgow Tigers (Championship) 7:30pm

Teams:

EDINBURGH STAGGS BAR MONARCHS: Ricky Wells (captain), Victor Palovaara, Kyle Howarth (guest), Joel Andersson, Cameron Heeps, William Lawson, Connor Coles.

GLASGOW ALLIED VEHICLES TIGERS: Craig Cook (Captain), James Sarjeant, Rasmus Jensen, Claus Vissing, Paul Starke, Kyle Bickley, Connor Bailey.

Sunday 30th June: Glasgow Tigers v Staggs Bar Monarchs (Championship), 3:00pm

Full Result Details