SOMERSET MATCHES WILL DECIDE SHIELD PLACE

NEWS Tuesday 18th September 2007, 9:11pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs are still involved in a five-cornered chase for the last three Young Shield places, and will need to do well this week against Somerset Rebels if they are to qualify.

They visit the Oak Tree Arena on Wednesday (in a double header with Newcastle) and the Rebels come to Armadale on Friday (start time 7.30pm). Regrettably Monarchs will ride the matches without their starlet Andrew Tully who has become the latest key man missing through injury after breaking his right ankle and heel at Scunthorpe last Sunday.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 21st SEPTEMBER (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: George Stancl, Derek Sneddon (capt.), Kaj Laukkanen, rider replacement for Andrew Tully, Matthew Wethers, Kalle Katajisto, Paul Clews.

SOMERSET REBELS: Magnus Zetterstrom, Simon Walker, Emil Kramer, Stephan Katt, Ritchie Hawkins, Jordan Frampton, Danny Warwick.

PLAYOFFS / YOUNG SHIELD: This week's opponents Somerset still have an outside chance of reaching the top four Playoffs as the Premier League season builds to an intriguing climax.

And of course the Scotwaste Monarchs are battling with Newcastle, Stoke, Mildenhall and Newport for the final two Young Shield positions.

From a Monarchs' viewpoint, the two points on Friday are essential and the aggregate point over the two matches is highly desirable too.

Being realistic, with Tessari a long-term absentee and Tully now out as well, a win at Somerset on Wednesday (last achieved in 2003) would be very unlikely.

The position, with points and remaining matches, is:

NEWCASTLE (27 points): v Somerset (A, 19/9), v Birmingham (H, 23/9).

NEWPORT (25 pts): v Sheffield (A, 20/9), v Isle of Wight (H, 23/9)

EDINBURGH (24 pts): v Somerset (A, 19/9), v Somerset (H, 21/9)

STOKE (23 pts): v Glasgow (A, 24/9), v Berwick (H, 26/9).

MILDENHALL (22 pts): v Berwick (A, 22/9), v Berwick (H, 23/9).

Edinburgh's race points are the best of the above sides ? at the moment! The figures are:

Newcastle -142

Newport -179

Edinburgh -121

Stoke -131

Mildenhall -144

CLEWS IN: Newcastle's Paul Clews is guest reserve in place of Daniele Tessari on Friday. He is likely to take 7 rides.

SPONSORS ON FRIDAY: Sponsoring Friday's match are the organisers of the 21st birthday party for supporter Amie Colbourne.

REBELS HUNTING PLAYOFF PLACE: Somerset made an amazing start to the Premier League campaign by winning their first four away matches, at Mildenhall, Stoke, Berwick and Glasgow, and at that point they must have felt unstoppable.

Since then things haven't gone quite so well, though they may fancy their chances on Friday with Edinburgh again hit by injuries.

The Rebels knocked the Monarchs out of the Cup back in July, and they have a reasonable Armadale record. They will be led as always by the Premier League Riders' Champion Magnus Zetterstrom, who will be very hard to beat.

Another Swede, Emil Kramer, is a top-class number two, and the other area in which Somerset are undeniably strong is at reserve where Jordan Frampton and Danny Warwick are likely to do well home and away.

They are in the fortunate position of having their own seven riders fit and ready to race. How nice that must feel.

QUADS ON FRIDAY: During Friday's second half, following the main match, there will be some quad races held.

LAST WEEK'S MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs overturned pre-match predictions by beating Rye House 50-45 at Armadale. George Stancl became the first of the current septet to record a paid maximum this season, and his 11 points was matched by Matthew Wethers.

On Saturday at Berwick the Monarchs did an efficient job to beat the troubled Bandits 55-35. Kaj Laukkanen scored 14, Matthew Wethers 12 and guest Michael Coles 12.