Image Credit: Jack Cupido

Tigers In Town Once More

NEWS Friday 29th July 2022, 12:34pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The What the Fork Monarchs know they have qualification to the final of the Jubilee League in their own hands this weekend as they face home and away ties against the Glasgow Tigers starting Friday night at Armadale.

Of course, the visitors can say exactly the same as both head into the weekend unbeaten in the group so far, the Tigers having a trip to Berwick sandwiched between the 2 derby tussles.

While the maths is simple, 6 points for the Monarchs from the two matches guarantees them qualification, 8 points for the Tigers from their 3 matches does the same (with various permutations in-between) things are never that cut and dry when the rivals take to the track.

This will be the 5th match-up of the season between the 2 so far this year and both teams can point to moments of glory, Glasgow were dominant 51-39 winners at Armadale in the league back in April but the Monarchs came out victorious over 2 legs to knock the Tigers out of the KO Cup so the bragging rights so far this year are probably about equal.

A couple of line-up and personal changes for this evening firstly sees the Monarchs switch up the reserve berths with Jacob Hook moving to number 7 and James Sarjeant to 6.

For the Tigers both Benjamin Basso and Tom Brennan miss out with commitments for their country in the Speedway of Nations U21 final in Denmark, rider replacement for Basso with all the Tigers eligible to take a ride while Aaron Summers steps in for Brennan. It will be interesting to see how this impacts the Tigers as always when r/r is in use pressure moves to others in the team.

The rest of the Tigers line-up is as expected with Craig Cook leading the way from number 1 being well backed up by Ulrich Ostergaard and Danyon Hume in the main body of the team alongside Summers while a real power packed duo of Broc Nicol and Connor Bailey at reserve means there is no weak link.

The Monarchs will look to build on recent encouraging home performances with both Kye Thomson and Paco Castagna having perhaps their best home meeting of the season last time out against Berwick, Sam and Josh raced to paid 29 between them in the home leg of the KO Cup match and a repeat of that would go a long way to helping the Monarchs aim of sending the Tigers home pointless.

Tickets are still available with pay at the gate an option also while for those not in attendance the match will be live streamed on EM:TV

A big night awaits both teams then as the Monarchs look to take maximum points then sit and watch the Tigers result at Berwick leaving them knowing exactly what is required on Sunday, while for the Tigers points tonight could go a long way to them being the ones to put their name in the final.

Tapes up at 7.30pm!