BUSIEST EVER SPELL STARTS WITH TOUGH BRUMMIES

NEWS Tuesday 18th August 2009, 8:12pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs have never had a busier spell in their history than the programme which faces them over the next four weeks, with 15 matches in that period, starting with Birmingham's visit to Armadale on Friday.

Early season success has kept them in all competitions, weather has postponed several fixtures, and enforced team changes mean that the side taking all this on is fairly far removed from the team which started the season. There will be two double headers at Armadale plus one two-match weekend.

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

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Ryan Fisher, Michal Rajkowski, Max Dilger, Matthew Wethers (captain), Kevin Wolbert, Aaron Summers, Byron Bekker.

BIRMINGHAM BRC ROOFING BRUMMIES: Tomasz Piszcz, Rusty Harrison, Ludvig Lindgren, Richard Sweetman, Jason Lyons, Jay Herne, Lee Smart.

REVISED FIXTURE LIST

Home fixtures in capitals.

AUGUST

21 BIRMINGHAM PL

22 Workington PL

23 Newcastle PL

24 Redcar PL

26 Birmingham PL

28 GLASGOW PL

SEPTEMBER

4 WORKINGTON PL

5 SOMERSET PL 6.30pm

11 RYE HOUSE/STOKE KO/PL 7pm

13 Stoke PL

17 Sheffield PL

18 BERWICK/REDCAR PL/PL 7pm

19 Rye House KO

25 KING'S LYNN PT Final

OCTOBER

2 TBC

7 King's Lynn PT Final

9 TBC

16 TBC

23 TBC

30 HOMECOMING SCOTTISH OPEN

W?LBERT DEBUT THIS TIME German Champion Kevin W?lbert will surely ride for Monarchs this weekend.

He travelled over for the Homecoming Scottish Open on 31st July, and then to make his debut for Monarchs in two fixtures last weekend, but has been thwarted by rain-offs each time.

He now faces five matches in six days in a baptism of fire in UK Speedway!

FIVE IN SIX DAYS: Right after the Brummies match Monarchs prepare to race four away matches, starting with the restaging of the Workington fixture rained off last Saturday. It was not ideal to slot this match back in to such a busy period but no other date was suitable.

On Sunday Monarchs are at Newcastle where the Diamonds have substantially strengthened their team, and on Monday Monarchs take part in the Sky TV match at Redcar.

Those who survive that lot will head for Birmingham on Wednesday for another match postponed earlier.

BRUMMIES ON FORM: Birmingham were briefly level with King's Lynn at the top of the Premier League last week after away wins at Rye House and Newport. Certainly they are serious contenders for a top four Playoff position.

They have made numerous changes since the start of the season, largely by choice with out-of-touch riders being moved on, and they are pretty happy with the side as it stands now.

Their star men are the holders of the Premier Pairs, Jason Lyons and Tomasz Piszcz, who triumphed at Somerset in late June. Lyons has been slightly less consistent than usual this season but is still one of the leading Premier riders, while Piszcz has steadied up this season and actually tops the team's averages. There has been some talk of him having been injured in Poland but internet results suggest otherwise.

Richard Sweetman and Ludvig Lindgren form an exciting and youthful middle pair while former Monarch Rusty Harrison is easing his way back to form, having returned from illness earlier this season at Glasgow before being moved on.

LAST MEETING: Seems a long tome ago now that Scotwaste Monarchs beat Sheffield Tigers 51-39 on 7th August. Ryan Fisher was in brilliant form with 17 points. Since then he has won the Ashfield Classic at Glasgow.

NEXT MEETING: Fixtures listed earlier ? the next Armadale meeting will be a visit from Glasgow Tigers on Friday 28th August.

Full Result Details