Edinburgh Monarchs v Glasgow Tigers

We thought we were heading for a big win, but two 1-5 losses in heats 14 and 15 left Monarchs with a tough task if they were to regain the Spring Trophy at Ashfield.

How did it happen? Well it didn't help that Matthew Wethers forgot to turn his fuel on in heat 14 (which also made him ineligible for heat 15) and it didn't help that a sheared engine bolt just before heat 15 took Ryan Fisher out of that one. He was unbeaten at that point.

However credit should go to Glasgow too. James Grieves was right back to his best and engineered the heat 15 5-1 by blocking Tully's outside run. And their heat 14 pair of Lee Dicken and Mitchell Davey were both worth more than they scored.

Monarchs sailed off impressively with Fisher well ahead in heat 1, and Tabaka doing well to take third and even get close to McGowan at one point.

The first lap of heat 2 was dramatic and Mitchell Davey shot ahead up the back straight, only to stop on the fourth corner in a shower of sparks. Thereafter our pair easily led home Jamie Courtney.

James Grieves was right into the groove in heat 3 though Matthew kept it close, and it was tight for third as well with the point going to guest Aaron Summers ahead of Dicken. The Tigers' captain fell on the last bend.

Tully and Katajisto had no problems beating Grajczonek in heat 4 and we were into TR territory already. McGowan had the black and white on for the next but Wethers took him up the back straight - only for the heat to be stopped when Ksiezak fell at the back.

Next time round McGowan did get the six points. Fisher led heat 6 while Tabaka was looking for a way past Davey - only to run into his back wheel and crash heavily into the fence.

He rose but looked a bit wobbly, and was eventually ruled out of the meeting. Fisher had to do it again but won easily.

Heat 7 was a good one - Grieves and Dicken led but Tully gave determined chase, and cut through into second late in the race.

Mitchell Davey was excluded, rather harshly, from heat 8 after he had clashed with Katajisto, and Stewart Dickson was up at the referee's box for the first time this season. Fast gating Ksiezak led all the way with Katajisto working hard on the outside line and looking for cutbacks. Finally he got it just right and swept down the final straight to take the win.

Grajczonek still wasn't showing his best form and he was swept aside in heat 9 after Summers had raced round the outside line, and Wethers tucked inside him. That put us 11 up, which Stewart Dickson mistakenly thought allowed the second TR. Grieves came out in black and white but had to change.

Fisher got the better of Grieves in a tough first turn but this time the unbeaten Katajisto couldn't make progress from the back.

Tully stormed away from McGowan in heat 11, and we gained an advantage when Ksiezak fell and let in Dilger for the point.

So Grieves now did get his TR and led all the way, though Katajisto put up a fine chase.

Fisher and Tully were too quick for Grajczonek in heat 13 and that put us 49-35 ahead with both TRs gone. Surely we were heading for a big win?

Well, no. The mishaps of Wethers and Fisher plus some good riding by the Tigers saw to that, and they probably went into the second leg as favourites to retain the Trophy.

First Scottish Derby this week

The Scotwaste Monarchs make the first appearance of the 2010 as a team on Friday when they take on the Glasgow Tigers in the Spring Trophy at Armadale.

Glasgow come fresh from a surprise win over Coventry in their opening challenge last Sunday so they will not lack confidence even though Monarchs have had much the better of matches between the sides in the last couple of years. Glasgow are holders of the Spring Trophy and both sides will be very keen to make a strong start against their greatest rivals.

TEAMS FOR THE SPRING TROPHY FIRST LEG AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 26th MARCH (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Ryan Fisher, Jozsef Tabaka, Kevin Wolbert, Matthew Wethers, Andrew Tully, Max Dilger, Kalle Katajisto.

A-PLANT TIGERS: Travis McGowan, Robert Ksiezak, James Grieves, Lee Dicken, Josh Grajczonek, Jamie Courtney, Mitchell Davey.

TIGERS HOLDERS: Edinburgh have won a remarkable 14 of the last 16 matches against Glasgow, but they did grab the Spring Trophy last March when their 56-37 home win overturned Monarchs' 51-38 lead from their home leg.

These early season matches date back to 1980 and have been quite close; Edinburgh have won 13 times to Glasgow's 10.

ALL MENDED: Last Friday's enjoyable Scottish Open featured an unusual number of spectacular crashes but happily no serious injuries.

Kevin Wolbert's night was a disaster and he crashed heavily twice, though he did complete the meeting. He admitted to feeling bad over the weekend, but by Monday was definitely fitter and ready for the matches ahead.

Max Dilger suffered rib injuries when he was brought off by Michal Rajkowski, and was in some pain, but he has ridden for his Polish team Opole on Tuesday and scored 7 points against Prague.

Kalle Katajisto had machine problems which hampered his efforts last Friday, but dad Timo has worked hard this week to ensure that won't be repeated.

Jozsef Tabaka had a steady start and makes his team debut for Monarchs in Friday's fixture.

So there should be no excuses this week if things don't go to plan against the Tigers.

MEETING SPONSOR: The Agents of Monarchs' highly successful fundraiser the Grand Draw are sponsors of Friday's match with the Tigers.

HOPES SPRING?: Glasgow line up this season with no Shane Parker in their ranks for the first time since 2003. He is effectively replaced by Australian Travis McGowan whose experience and record suggest he should be one of the top Premier League riders this season.

With James Grieves also in the side, Tigers will as usual have a strong top two and their hopes for the season will rest on the progress made by the remainder of their side.

Both Josh Grajczonek and Robert Ksiezak (two of four Aussies in the side) started well last Sunday. It's Grajczonek's third UK season and he shows all the signs of going far.

Lee Dicken has piled up double figure scores on his last two visits to Armadale and Monarchs will probably be quite pleased that he isn't at reserve this time round.

Both teams have plenty of questions to be answered and Friday will be the first chance to guess what these answers might be.

LAST MEETING: Armadale staged the rerun of the 2009 Scottish Open last Friday and it resulted in a win for James Wright, from Ryan Fisher and Andre Compton.

NEXT MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs start their Premier Trophy campaign with a tough match against the highly rated Newcastle Diamonds on Friday 2nd April at Armadale.