Tully v Screen in an earlier match Image Credit: Ron MacNeill

SPEEDWAY RETURNS WITH MAJOR TIE

NEWS Tuesday 26th June 2012, 6:35pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs face their biggest matches for a while as they race against Glasgow in the Knockout Cup quarter final, with the first leg at Armadale on Friday (7:30).

With just two home meetings raced in seven weeks, the club are praying for better luck with the weather for a match which both teams will be desperate to do well in. Neither team is at the moment in a challenging position in the league, though that could change, so the cup looks like the best route to glory for this season – plus of course both teams like winning the Scottish derby matches.

TEAMS FOR THE KNOCKOUT CUP QUARTER FINAL 1st LEG MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 29th June (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Craig Cook, Derek Sneddon, Theo Pijper, Matthew Wethers (capt.), Andrew Tully, Micky Dyer, Charles Wright.

GLASGOW TIGERS: Joe Screen (capt.), Chris Mills, Josh Grajczonek, rider replacement for Filip Sitera, James Grieves, Mason Campton, Jayden O’Malley.

THE CUP RECORD: Monarchs and Tigers have been drawn together just eight times in the past 64 years in the Knockout Cup.

Monarchs have been victorious five times, in 1968, 1980, 1986, 1987 and 1992.

Tigers came out on top in 1948, 1953 and 1994, the latter occasion being the all-Scottish final which created huge interest and drew a massive crowd to the Powderhall leg.

The teams also met at the mini-league stage of the competition in 1997 and 1998, the only years of such an arrangement.

Tigers won the cup in 1993 and 1994, and were losing finalists in 2011. Monarchs won the cup in 1981, 1997 and 1999, and were losing finalists in 1961, 2009 and 2010.

UNPRECEDENTED RAIN-OFFS: Unfortunately we can repeat this heading from last week’s release because our luck hasn’t changed.

Last Friday’s home match was called off about 4:30pm, which made it four rain-offs and one ‘no meeting’ Friday in a seven week period – the worst ever for the club.

John Campbell says “Our biggest problem is cashflow. We have now run five away league matches and only one home match. We have also had an away challenge match without the equivalent home match. Costs of away matches can be significant and to put things simply, our piggy bank is now empty. I only hope that it will start filling again when we are able to run meetings on beautiful summer’s evenings.”

The away match at Rye House on Saturday was called off against Monarchs’ wishes after just six races.

MEETING SPONSORS: Headlam Fllorcoverings and their business partners have arranged the sponsorship of Friday’s big event. Headlam have backed meetings at Armadale for several seasons now.

CHANGED TIGERS: Monarchs got slightly the better of Tigers in the League Cup matches earlier in the season, but since then Tigers have brought in Chris Mills and Filip Sitera to replace Mudgway and Ksiezak.

Mills has a decent Armadale record, but Sitera hasn’t ridden there – and he still won’t because he is away to ride as a reserve in one of the GP qualifiers. Rider replacement will operate for him.

The visiting heat leaders will hold the key for the Tigers as they are all more than capable of big scores. James Grieves will be making his 89th Armadale appearance and shows no sign of losing form – he became last Sunday the all-time Glasgow second highest point scorer.

Screen of course has been a world class rider while Grajczonek, not quite at his best recently, is nevertheless a top prospect.

Much may well rest on Tigers’ no. 6 Mason Campton, a successful debutant in the UK this season who has been scoring very well. He is likely to take two or three of the Sitera rides.

LAST MEETING: Nothing at Armadale since 1st June, a 56-37 win over Sheffield.

NEXT MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs face the only visiting team to have won at Armadale this season, Redcar, in a Premier League match on Friday 6th July.

TICKET OFFER: The Scottish promotions have a generous offer running for supporters who wish to attend both legs. Recent rain-offs have limited fans’ chances to buy these tickets at the track, and they are not available on Friday, but they can be ordered in advance or purchased online.

The double ticket prices are as follows:

Adult £25

Senior/Student/Child 16 – 18 £20

Child 12 – 15 £10

Child under 12 £ 1

You can book your tickets online here or you can telephone the stadium 01501 734404 to reserve tickets to collect on Friday. This offer will not be available at the turnstiles.