Howe v Wolbert earlier in the season Image Credit: Ron MacNeill

MONARCHS LOOKING FOR POINTS

NEWS Wednesday 31st August 2011, 12:37pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs will be looking to perform at their best and pick up three league points when the very useful Scunthorpe team come to Armadale on Friday.

Monarchs and the Scorpions are amongst several mid-table sides jostling for position, and the Scorpions narrowly took all three points when Monarchs visited their track on Monday. They have a couple of good young Danes amongst the backup for David Howe. Monarchs expect to be at full strength with Matthew Wethers recovering from injuries which kept him out of the away match.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 2nd September (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Kevin Wolbert, Kalle Katajisto, Andrew Tully, Matthew Wethers (capt.), Craig Cook, Byron Bekker, Kyle Howarth.

SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS: David Howe (capt.), Ben Wilson, Thomas Jorgensen, Richard Hall, rider replacement for Tero Aarnio, Michael Palm Toft, Steve Worrall.

MATTHEW PREPARING: All being well Matthew Wethers' injuries will be healed in time for Friday's match.

He came down with Andrew Tully on the opening lap of heat 3 on Sunday. His initial problem was that pressure from his helmet strap left him with a sore throat, and he later experienced some back pain.

He also wrote his bike off. He said ?That's even more frustrating because it was no fault of my own.?

SOMERSET NEXT WEDNESDAY: The Scotwaste Monarchs still have 7 away matches to race, and head for Somerset next Wednesday for what is a restaging of the postponed phase one match.

The Workington visit (also a postponed phase one match) will be on Saturday September 10th.

BIG DATE FOR KYLE: Kyle Howarth travels south on Saturday to Rye House for the National League Riders' Championship, in which he represents Belle Vue Colts. At 17 he is one of the youngest riders in the field; he will have been encouraged by his performance at Scunthorpe on Monday.

Kyle's form puts him amongst the favourites for the meeting but it is a pretty even field, including relatively experienced names such as Nick Simmons, Simon Lambert, Adam Allott and Todd Kurtz.

From the younger brigade there are Kyle's Colts' team mate Jason Garrity, Rob Branford and the Worrall twins.

Also in the meeting are 2011 Monarchs Jay Herne and Tim Webster.

KALLE HAPPY: There is some cautious optimism from the Katajisto camp after Monday's display at Scunthorpe.

He scored 9, his best away match for a while, riding an engine he has just got back from Peter Carr and using some tips from George Stancl.

GOOD YEAR FOR SCUNNY: The Scorpions took a gamble this year with their team, leaving out experienced Magnus Karlsson and bringing in the young Dane Thomas Jorgensen.

Their gamble has paid off with a very solid side; Jorgensen has been a success, and they have also managed to bring across his fellow countryman Michael Palm Toft who has also impressed. He did very well at reserve in Monday's match against Monarchs.

Star man as usual is David Howe and his pairing with Ben Wilson was in very good form on Monday.

Finn Tero Aarnio has been in good form but he will be missing on Friday due to the Finnish Championship. Rider replacement operates for him with everyone but Howe eligible for a ride.

LAST MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs had a very bad night, failing to adapt to a heavy track and going down to Glasgow 39-54. Andrew Tully was exempt from blame with 14 points.

NEXT WEEK'S MATCH: The Scotwaste Monarchs race Highly-placed Somerset Rebels in a Premier League match at Armadale on Friday 9th September.