BIGGEST WEEK SO FAR

NEWS Tuesday 10th June 2008, 10:31pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs have been quiet as a team recently but now face a very important spell, including the visit of Reading Racers to Armadale on Friday in the Premier Trophy semi-final.

Before that they travel to Sheffield on Thursday in the Premier League. For the first time for a while Monarchs field their full septet for both matches and hopefully that will continue for the foreseeable future. Also this weekend, William Lawson competes in the World Under-21 Semi-Final at Rye House on Sunday.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER TROPHY SEMI-FINAL FIRST LEG AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 13th JUNE (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

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

READING RACERS: Mark Lemon, Chris Mills, Ulrich Ostergaard, Tomas Suchanek, Tom P Madsen, Jamie Smith, Nicki Glanz.

TOUGH MATCHES: Monarchs have been in excellent form but they know the size of the task facing them over the two days of action this week.

The visit to Sheffield is an eagerly awaited fixture in view of Monarchs' recent displays, but realistically no-one travels to Sheffield as favourites.

Monarchs have not won there for a decade and can at the least look forward to putting up a better showing than many of their recent squads have at Owlerton.

For Friday, both sides will be conscious of the close match fought out at Armadale recently when Monarchs only won by 49-43.

The last few heats were tense as the Racers put on the pressure. Monarchs will be looking for a bigger advantage to take to the second leg at Smallmead Stadium on Monday 23rd June.

BIG DAY FOR WILLIAM: William Lawson's big meeting at Rye House on Sunday could see him qualify for the World Under-21 Final at Pardubice.

He would have to get in to the top 8 to reach the final for the first time, and amongst the opposition are UK colleagues Tai Woffinden and Lewis Bridger, Aussies Chris Holder and Troy Batchelor, the Nordic winner Linus Eklof, a very interesting American Ricky Wells and other Scandinavian starlets like Morten Risager, Simon Gustafsson and Ludvig Lindgren.

There are three Poles in there as well and who knows what they might do at Rye House.

SPONSOR ON FRIDAY: Keyline Broxburn are the match sponsors for Friday's match against the Racers.

SPEEDY RACERS: The Reading Racers are an impressive side with a powerful spearhead and plenty of experience in backup.

Ulrich Ostergaard has been the most impressive rider in the Premier League this season, and scored well into double figures in 20 consecutive matches until he ran into some machine problems last Monday in his home match.

Mark Lemon has probably been even more impressive over the years at Armadale and invariably records a few race victories.

There is experience in backup too, with Dane Tom P Madsen and Czech Tomas Suchanek both very capable riders. Chris Mills is a battling second string who always makes his mark at Armadale.

And reserve Jamie Smith, who was out of action on the Racers' last visit, is back on form and scored a match winning 12 at home to Birmingham on Monday.

LAST WEEK'S MEETING: Monarchs recorded their second biggest win of the season when they beat Isle of Wight 67-23. It was a fantastic night for reserve Andrew Tully who became the first Monarchs' rider ever to score a 21 point maximum in 7 rides.

NEXT WEEK'S MEETING: Sheffield Tigers come to Armadale on Friday 20th June in a Premier League match.

Full Result Details