ARMADALE ACTION STARTS WITH THE TIGERS

NEWS Monday 10th March 2008, 5:53pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs roar back into action at Armadale Stadium this Friday with an exciting young team which seems to have fired the public imagination in the build-up to the season.

You get no prizes without proving yourselves on the track of course, and the first test for the new team comes in the shape of the Glasgow Buildbase Tigers who will be attempting to win the Spring Trophy for the third year in a row.

Ryan Fisher (USA) and Thomas H Jonasson (Sweden) make their debuts for Monarchs while Tigers track their two new Aussie teenagers Mitchell Davey and Josh Grajczonek for the first time.

TEAMS FOR THE SPRING TROPHY MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 14th March (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

EDINBURGH SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Ryan Fisher, Derek Sneddon (captain), Thomas Jonasson, William Lawson, Matthew Wethers, Aaron Summers, Andrew Tully.

GLASGOW BUILDBASE TIGERS: Shane Parker (capt.), A N Other, Trent Leverington, Mitchell Davey, Robert Ksiezak, Josh Grajczonek, Lee Dicken.

NEW BOYS: RYAN FISHER has in his time averaged above 6 in the Elite League (Oxford 2004) so there is no doubting his ability.

However after a couple of years away from UK racing, things didn't go well for him last year at Belle Vue. Edinburgh are delighted to have him here (fitter and better equipped than last year) vowing to get his career back on track. He is still only 24.

Even younger at 19, THOMAS H JONASSON believes he can improve on his equal fourth place finish in last year's World Under-21 Final in Poland last year. Asked the question at last Friday's Talk-In, he said he felt he is good enough to win it.

Thomas will have a very busy year as he is also riding for VMS Elit (Sweden) and Stal Gorzow (Poland).

AARON SUMMERS (20) is nearly a new boy, having ridden just four matches for Monarchs last year, and it is an exceptionally young team Monarchs field this season with the oldest rider being captain Derek Sneddon at 25.

BAD START FOR ROSS: The shock news about Ross Brady's injury broke just as Monarchs were lining up for their pre-season photoshoot. He has a broken collar bone and while Tigers could use rider replacement for him, they have asked that the no. 2 slot be left blank for Friday's match. Could this suggest a new signing?

SPONSOR ON FRIDAY: Friday's meeting will be sponsored by Keyline Broxburn, once again committed to an excellent level of support for the Monarchs.

FLEXING MUSCLES: Glasgow have three new men in their lineup this year ? although thanks to the Ross Brady injury, only two of these will appear in the Tigers' ranks on Friday.

Ross is in any case a returning old boy, whereas Davey and Grajczonek are complete newcomers who have only had a few second half outings in the UK previously.

Both have shown potential at Under-21 level back home, and Grajczonek competed in last winter's Australian Championship series.

They will look to the now relatively experienced trio of Leverington, Ksiezak and Dicken to provide the main backup to top man Shane Parker while the young Aussies find their feet.

Of course there are a record-breaking FIVE Australians in the Glasgow side this season.

At this stage we don't know how the Tigers will fill the blank spot at number two.

THE SPRING TROPHY: The ?traditional? season's opener between Monarchs and Tigers really only began in 1980, and hasn't taken place every season since ? there have been 21 head-to-head battles between the sides to start the Scottish season. Edinburgh have won 12 to Glasgow's 9 ? but the Tigers are currently on a run having won the last 2.

NEXT WEEK'S MEETING: The first home Premier Trophy match is at Armadale on Friday 21st March, the visitors being Berwick Bandits (who have already won at Newcastle!)