WEAKENED MONARCHS FACE A HUGE TASK

NEWS Monday 13th August 2007, 11:59pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs will face full strength Glasgow Tigers at Armadale on Friday without heat leader George Stancl and key reserve Daniele Tessari.

This not-unexpected news was confirmed today after Stancl visited his doctor. He is still on crutches following ankle damage sustained last Friday. Captain Derek Sneddon (injured last week) will ride, and the remaining Monarchs' riders will give it their all. If they could pull off a win, it would be one of the best in their history.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 17th AUGUST (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

EDINBURGH SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Rider replacement for George Stancl, Derek Sneddon (capt.), Kaj Laukkanen, Andrew Tully, Matthew Wethers, A N Other, Kalle Katajisto.

GLASGOW FSM OUTDOOR ADVERTISING TIGERS: Craig Watson, David McAllan, Shane Parker, Robert Ksiezak, Trent Leverington, Michael Coles, Lee Dicken.

SNEDDON RIDES: The only good news on the injury front is that team captain Derek Sneddon will be riding in the weekend matches.

?I'm covered in road rash,? he said of the effects of the crash at Sheffield, ?but you tend to get used to that as a Speedway rider!?

BAD NEWS FOR GEORGE: George Stancl has been told by his doctor that he should not race this weekend with his ankle injury still giving him considerable problems.

?The doctor said he hoped I wouldn't race for three or four weeks, but I definitely want to be back before then, hopefully next week.

?I have apologised to John, I would love to race, especially being the meetings against Glasgow because I want to show them they were wrong to drop me.?

The only facility available is rider replacement which on the face of it seems unlikely to match Stancl's points.

TESSARI OUT FOR THE SEASON: Daniele Tessari has regrettably had to abandon his comeback attempt after aggravating his knee injury last Friday.

?I cannot race now,? he admitted, ?but I hope that Monarchs will want me back again next season.?

KAJ RETURNS: Finnish star Kaj Laukkanen returns to the ranks this week for Monarchs after competing in the Scandinavian Grand Prix. He is the third rider to compete in a GP while racing for Monarchs.

SPONSORS ON FRIDAY: Regular sponsors Keyline Broxburn (who backed the recent Scottish Open) are the meeting sponsors on Friday.

TIGERS WILL SEE THEIR CHANCE: Glasgow are in the enviable position of being at full strength, and have had few injury worries as they have maintained steady form throughout the season.

They have experience in abundance, they have knowledge of the Edinburgh track and they have the big guns in Shane Parker and Craig Watson to score the big points.

So for very good reasons Tigers will surely see this as their best ever chance of winning a league fixture at Armadale, something they have not previously managed.

Edinburgh have not yet announced who will ride at no. 6 for them in place of Tessari.

LAST WEEK'S MEETING: Monarchs suffered a good deal of misfortune and after leading all the way, lost out in the last couple of heats to Newcastle by 43-46. Top scorers were guest Jason Lyons and reserve Andrew Tully with 14 each.

NEXT WEEK'S MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs next opposition at Armadale will come from Workington Comets, on Friday 24th August.

Full Result Details