FIGHTING ON THREE FRONTS

NEWS Tuesday 29th September 2009, 7:46pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs will be competing this week in three of the four tournaments they are still contesting, with Glasgow being the Armadale visitors on Friday in the first leg of the Scottish Cup.

Before then they travel to King's Lynn for the second leg of the Premier Trophy Final (Wednesday), and on Sunday they are at Newcastle in the Premier Playoffs semi-final first leg. The KO Cup Final comes along later! It is going to be an incredible October whatever happens (finishing with the Homecoming Scottish Open on 30/10).

TEAMS FOR THE SCOTTISH CUP FIRST LEG AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 2nd October (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

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

GLASGOW A-PLANT TIGERS: James Grieves, Josh Grajczonek, Sandi Conda, William Lawson, Jason Lyons (guest), Mitchell Davey, Lee Dicken.

JASON GUESTS: With Shane Parker unfit, Birmingham's experienced star Jason Lyons rides for the Tigers on Friday.

He made a guest appearance for Monarchs earlier in the year and did very well.

TROPHY DECIDER: Monarchs race at King's Lynn on Wednesday night in the second leg of the Premier Trophy final.

No point bemoaning the fact that the team may feel they are unlucky only to have a 13-point advantage from the first leg at Armadale ? they know what they have to do and are determined to do it.

They will have to pull off the best result by a visiting team at Saddlebow Road this season ? the previous best being themselves when they went down 54-38 in August (since when Monarchs have strengthened their side).

SCOTTISH CUP RECORD: Monarchs have 21 victories in the Scottish Cup since 1951, and Tigers have won it 14 times.

During the Armadale era Monarchs have done even better with 10 wins to Tigers' 1, that being in 2005.

PREMIER PLAYOFFS: Edinburgh v Newcastle, King's Lynn v Birmingham are the Playoff semis, and whoever emerges as the winner after the final now know they will be taking on Belle Vue in the Promotion / Relegation tie after the Manchester club lost their last home match.

MATCH SPONSOR: The sponsors of Andrew Tully have taken over the Monarchs' Hospitality area this week for an Andrew Tully Support Night.

SCOTTISH CUP WILL BE HARD FOUGHT: In some eyes the Scottish Cup may be the least of the trophies Monarchs are chasing but that will not be the way the two teams look at it.

Glasgow have not had a great season for one reason or another but as on their last visit in the league, they do look equipped to give Monarchs a hard match.

William Lawson finished fifth in the Premier League Riders' Championship last Sunday and of course knows the track as well as anyone ? he rode brilliantly guesting for Monarchs recently.

James Grieves is often rated the best visiting rider ever at Armadale and of course had a year as a Monarch in 1999, and Jason Lyons of course is excellent everywhere.

Much will depend on how Josh Grajczonek goes ? he seemed to be getting to grips with the circuit on his last visit. And reserve Lee Dicken was Tigers' star on that occasion scoring 10+4.

LAST MEETING: Monarchs won the first leg of the Premier Trophy Final, beating King's Lynn 54-41. Ryan Fisher was on top form again, scoring 14 and unbeaten by the opposition.

NEXT MEETING: Newcastle will be the visitors to Armadale on Friday 9th October in the second leg of the Premier Playoffs semi-final.