LEAGUE AND TROPHY MATCHES COMING UP

NEWS Tuesday 17th June 2008, 11:23pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs race at Birmingham on Wednesday of this week before facing up to Sheffield Tigers on Friday at Armadale (these are both Premier League matches).

Then next Monday the team will attempt to qualify for the Premier Trophy Final (against Birmingham again!) when they race at Reading in the second leg of the semi-final next Monday evening. Following that the sport of Speedway in the UK will focus on the Somerset / Cardiff weekend!

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 20th JUNE (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

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

SHEFFIELD TIGERS: Ricky Ashworth, Joel Parsons, Andre Compton, Paul Cooper, Ben Wilson, Kyle Hughes, Lee Smethills.

LEAGUE PROGRESS: To some extent Monarchs' success in other competitions (they are in the semi-finals of the KO Cup and the Premier Trophy) has delayed their league programme, so they have raced just 9 matches so far whereas for example Workington have raced 16.

So it's time to make up, and of course try to collect the points along the way.

At Birmingham the Brummies have a number of injuries but have always been shrewd in their choice of guests. Lining up for the home team on Wednesday will be Chris Mills, Krzysztof Stojanowski and Lee Smethills, as well as a rider replacement facility.

In last year's corresponding match Monarchs were heavily beaten but it will be disappointing if there is not considerable improvement on that showing.

Friday's visitors to West Lothian the Sheffield Tigers will have been encouraged by a 19-point win when the teams met in Yorkshire recently.

In this match Monarchs will be forced to ride without Thomas Jonasson.

WILLIAM MADE IT: William Lawson became the first Scot to reach the World Under-21 Final when he finished sixth in the semi-final at Rye House on Sunday (8 pts, 2 wins). It was a strong field so well done to Monarchs' current no. 1.

TROPHY SEMI: Monarchs are scheduled to be at full strength when they go to Reading on Monday 23rd for the second leg of the Premier Trophy semi-final.

SPONSOR ON FRIDAY Monarchs' team sponsors Scotwaste are the match sponsors on Friday and will watch the event with their guests from the George Hunter Memorial Lounge.

TIGER UPSURGE?: Many people predicted that Monarchs could go close or even win at Sheffield last week. However it didn't turn out that way, with bike problems only partly responsible for a 19-point defeat.

The focus now turns to Armadale and the question becomes whether Sheffield can improve on recent performances and run Monarchs close.

Captain Andre Compton is invariably a big scorer for the Yorkshire team but the other heat leaders Ricky Ashworth and Ben Wilson will be asked for more points than they have previously managed at Armadale.

Joel Parsons always gives a battling performance and Lee Smethills could be a handy reserve ? he once picked up 15 points in the colours of Berwick at Armadale.

THOMAS MISSES FRIDAY: Thomas Jonasson has to ride for his Polish club on Friday and so Monarchs have to use a Conference League replacement.

There's no denying that it is proving more difficult than originally anticipated to accommodate Thomas's fixtures abroad, partly because his Polish club Stal Gorzow seem to be completely unwilling to track Kenneth Hansen who is supposed to be an alternative to Thomas in their squad.

Friday's match at Armadale is effectively a rearranged fixture (the date was originally reserved for a cup tie), which means that Monarchs do not have first call on Thomas's services.

Thomas is extremely keen to ride in as many Armadale matches as possible but he will always be directed by Swedish boss Tony Olsson. He said last week ?I will ride where I am told to ride, but what I don't want is to be told to ride in two places at one time!?

Thomas will be riding in the away matches at Birmingham and Reading.

LAST WEEK'S MEETING: Monarchs came out on top 56-34 in a match of twists and turns against Reading in the first leg of the Premier Trophy semi-final. Andrew Tully (13) and Ryan Fisher (12) were the highest home scorers.

NEXT MEETING: Monarchs will be down south for the Premier Pairs on Friday 27th June, represented by William Lawson and Matthew Wethers. A big travelling support is expected with most taking in the British Grand Prix at Cardiff the following evening.

There will be a match at Armadale on Friday 4th July, but confirmation is awaited that this will be against Stoke.