Crunch weekend for the Jubilee League

NEWS Wednesday 27th July 2022, 10:21pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

This Friday the Glasgow Tigers come to Armadale for the third time this season, on this occasion in the Championship Jubilee League.

To reach the Final, a team must finish top of a local mini-league which in our case consists of Berwick and Glasgow as well as the WTF Monarchs. Monarchs have made a very strong start by beating Berwick home and away, and so currently sit top, but all will be decided over three days this weekend with Monarchs and Tigers meeting home and away plus Tigers' visit to Berwick on Saturday.

Glasgow's two outstanding youngsters Tom Brennan and Benjamin Basso will miss the match on Friday due to being selected for their countries in the Under-21 Speedway of Nations in Denmark. Whilst we would like to see them race here, Tigers are not necessarily weakened as Aaron Summers will guest for Brennan while rider replacement (with everyone getting a ride) will apply for Basso who is second in Tigers' averages.

On their two visits earlier this year Glasgow recorded a 51-39 win in the Championship match but Monarchs turned that right round when they won 53-37 in the Knockout Cup.

Monarchs' team manager Alex Harkess feels confident and has decided on a tweak to the riding order. "This weekend we turn to Glasgow, who will have a couple of riders missing though I don't think they are any weaker. I feel that we are getting to the point now where we should be pretty dominant at home as they were last Friday. If they keep doing that we will be OK. I've changed our reserves round for this weekend because I think it will give Jacob a bit of a boost."

Both teams should be at full strength for the rest of the weekend, though Lasse Fredriksen, Paco Castagna and Broc Nicol are involved in the Speedway of Nations prior to Friday.

Friday's Championship Jubilee League match will be Live Streamed. Details on www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk

FRIDAY'S MATCH:

Friday 29th July: Edinburgh Monarchs v Glasgow Tigers (Championship Jubilee League), Armadale, 7:30pm

WTF MONARCHS: Sam Masters (capt.), Lasse Fredriksen, Kye Thomson, Paco Castagna, Josh Pickering, James Sarjeant, Jacob Hook.

ALLIED VEHICLES TIGERS: Craig Cook, rider replacement for Benjamin Basso, Aaron Summers (guest), Danyon Hume, Ulrich Ostergaard, Broc Nicol, Connor Bailey.

Sunday 31st July: Glasgow Tigers v Edinburgh Monarchs (Championship Jubilee League), Peugot Ashfield Stadium, 3:00pm.

Full Result Details