WITCHES AT ARMADALE

NEWS Tuesday 3rd May 2011, 9:29pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Highly-rated Ipswich come to Armadale on Friday, and both the Witches and the Scotwaste Monarchs have been showing good form after recent surprise home defeats.

Popular Aussie Kevin Doolan leads the Ipswich side against a Monarchs' team which will be missing both Kalle Katajisto and Lee Dicken. Witches have riders missing too and much will depend who covers best. Monarchs and Witches have only met 10 times in all, the last time in 1996.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 6th MAY (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Kevin Wolbert, rider replacement for Kalle Katajisto, Andrew Tully, Matthew Wethers (capt.), Craig Cook, Gary Irving, Kyle Howarth.

SACKERS WITCHES: Kevin Doolan (capt.), Taylor Poole, Rider replacement for Lasse Bjerre, Derek Sneddon (guest), Chris Schramm, Jerran Hart, Chris Mills.

CONTINENTAL KALLE: Kalle Katajisto is missing again from this weekend's matches, as he was crucially at Scunthorpe last Monday.

He rides at Landshut on Saturday night.

Regrettably he is involved for his country Finland in both the senior and Under-21 World Cup competitions. He is not permitted to withdraw from these competitions ? a ban would result.

A rule which ensures that no rider is forced to ride at both levels would appear sensible, especially for a rider who rides for a league club in the UK where he wants to gain experience and earn a living.

Rider replacement will be used for Kalle in both meetings.

LEE OUT: Lee Dicken will also miss this weekend's matches, in his case due to a pre-arranged commitment which was known about when he recently joined the team.

In the circumstances Monarchs must use guests from the National League. In Friday's match this will be Gary Irving of Scunthorpe Saints who until recently was in Workington's team.

Gary can't ride on Saturday because he rode at Workington last week.

MONARCH OF THE MATCH SPONSORED: The weekly choice of a Monarch of the Match has returned and will be sponsored by a supporters' group named DDS.

The first award last Friday went to new boy Kyle Howarth.

WORKINGTON ON SATURDAY: Monarchs travel to Workington for a Premier League match which starts at 7pm.

The Comets' home form has been excellent so far. Of course Craig Cook will be returning to his previous track.

MEETING SPONSOR: The visit of Ipswich on Friday will be sponsored by the Spylaw Tavern, 27 Spylaw Street, Edinburgh. The Spylaw are regular sponsors of the Monarchs.

TITLE HUNTING WITCHES: Ipswich have joined the Premier League this season after many years in the Elite League.

They were rated favourites to lift the Premier League title, so it was quite a surprise when they were beaten home and away by the very impressive Somerset side. Since then they have recovered and shown their expected form most of the time.

Kevin Doolan is a fine leader for them and rides Armadale very well. He is partnered by young fellow countryman Taylor Poole who forms a very strong opening pair.

Both Lasse Bjerre and Morten Risager were scheduled to be in the Danish Championship and miss the meeting, though in fact Risager was injured on Monday anyway. Former Monarchs' captain Derek Sneddon rides as a guest and rider replacement (allowing everyone a ride) applies for Bjerre.

Schramm, Hart and Mills add experience to the side and Monarchs will need to be somewhere near their best even with the Danes out of action.

LAST WEEK'S MATCH: The Scotwaste Monarchs recorded their biggest victory of the season when they beat Scunthorpe 60-32. Two home men finished on 13 points: Craig Cook and Kevin Wolbert, though Matthew Wethers was unbeaten from four rides.

NEXT WEEK'S MATCH: The Scotwaste Monarchs have a tough Knockout Cup tie next week against Sheffield. They travel to Owlerton on Friday and the Yorkshire Tigers come to Armadale on Friday. It looks like a very tight tie.