TOUGH START THIS WEEKEND

NEWS Tuesday 21st March 2006, 10:00am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs have a later start this season than many of their Premier League rivals but when the season gets under way this Friday at Armadale, it comes back with a bang!

The traditional opening Spring Trophy match against Glasgow gets things started on Friday (7.30) followed by a Premier Trophy visit to Berwick (Saturday 7pm) and the return at Glasgow on Sunday (4pm). The Glasgow Tigers got off to a great start last Saturday by winning 46-44 at Berwick and with their top two of Shane Parker and Danny Bird they are sure to give Monarchs a hard meeting on Friday.

PIJPER LEADS THE SIDE

Theo Pijper captains the Monarchs for the second year, and he is cautious about predicting the year ahead.

?We haven't had a match yet and we have some new riders. Derek Sneddon and Sean Stoddart at reserve know the track and I am sure will do well; Henrik Moller is an unknown quantity.

?I have spent some time with him last week and will be helping him with his bike setup when he arrives back in the country on Thursday.?

BRIDGETT OPTIMISTIC

Alan Bridgett will be looking after the team and track preparation for a remarkable 16th successive year (and he also did the job in 1980-1) which must make him one of the most experienced officials in the sport's history.

He is still enthusiastic and says of the 2006 side: ?They are an exciting interesting team, I really think that. I don't think anyone will be as quick to write us off this year as last.?

TEAM MASCOT

12 year old Dale Lamb from Libberton near Biggar will be the Monarchs' team mascot in 2006.

He has impressed trainers with his ability on a 200cc machine and has earned the nickname ?Dale the Slider?.

MONARCHS LEAD 12-9

Since the opening 2-leg challenge began in the eighties, Edinburgh have been victorious 12 times to Glasgow's 9. Edinburgh have won the Trophy in the past 3 seasons, Glasgow last won in 2002.

SPONSOR ON FRIDAY

Sponsors of Friday's match will be Scotwaste, the 2006 team sponsors of the Monarchs.

TEAMS FOR THE SPRING TROPHY MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 24th MARCH (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

EDINBURGH SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Henrik Moller, Theo Pijper (capt.), Matthew Wethers, William Lawson, Rusty Harrison, Derek Sneddon, Sean Stoddart.

GLASGOW PREMIER TRAVEL INN TIGERS: Danny Bird, David McAllan, Lee Dicken, Kauko Nieminen, Shane Parker (capt.), Robert Ksiezak, James Cockle.

TIGERS' STRONG START

Glasgow have made a great start to the season by winning at Berwick, and the most pleasing aspect for them was the number of different race winners they had.

David McAllan, Robert Ksiezak and Kauko Nieminen all won heats at vital stages, which suggests that there will indeed be good backup to the powerhouse top two of Shane Parker and Danny Bird.

James Cockle also went well and Tigers do appear to have one of the best reserve pairings around. Robert Ksiezak has used his winter well and seems to have regained the form he showed for Monarchs early last season, prior to breaking his leg.

NEXT WEEK'S MEETING: Visitors to Armadale next Friday (31st March) in the Premier Trophy will be Berwick. The Bandits have lost two home matches so far and promoter Peter Waite is already threatening changes.

HALMOND ENGINEERING MAN OF THE MATCH: Halmond Engineering of Blackburn, West Lothian will be sponsoring a weekly Man of the Match at Armadale this season.