SIX POINTS AT STAKE

NEWS Wednesday 29th August 2012, 10:33am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs race their first double header of the season at Armadale Stadium on Friday with an earlier start time of 7pm against the formidable opposition of Scunthorpe Scorpions and Redcar Bears.

Monarchs have guest replacements for key men Cook and Tabaka who will be out of action for some time yet, and need to keep their winning home run going to maintain their challenge for a top six Playoff position. James Grieves stands in for Cook and Filip Sitera for Tabaka. Former Monarch Kevin Wolbert guests for Scunthorpe's David Howe, and another ex-Monarch Aaron Summers is the star man for Redcar, the only team to have won at Armadale so far this season.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE DOUBLE HEADER MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 31st August (start time 7.00, doors open 6.15) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: James Grieves (guest), Derek Sneddon, Theo Pijper, Matthew Wethers (capt.), Andrew Tully, Filip Sitera (guest), Marcel Helfer.

SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS: Kevin Wolbert (guest), Nick Morris, Thomas Jorgensen, Ashley Birks, Josh Auty, Michael Palm Toft, Gary Irving.

REDCAR BEARS: Ulrich Ostergaard, Carl Wilkinson, Kevin Doolan, Aaron Summers (capt.), Matej Kus, guest replacement for Max Dilger, Jade Mudgway.

ADMISSION ON FRIDAY: Admission has been set as follows for Friday's double meeting:

Adults £27, Seniors etc £22, Child 12 – 15 £10, Child under 12 £2. Slightly cheaper advance prices (generally a £2 discount) are available on-line at www.edinburghmonarchs.co

PREMIER LEAGUE: Teams have ridden varying numbers of matches with Monarchs being well behind due to the ravages of the weather.

The top five teams appear to be well set for Playoff positions, and they are Somerset, Leicester, Newcastle, Workington and Scunthorpe. On the + / - measure balancing away points gained against home points lost, these teams are all in credit and have points in the bag.

The other well placed team are Edinburgh, with 5 away points gained and no home points lost. However in our case we do not have points in the bag, thanks to being so far behind with our programme.

What is more injuries have put the position at risk, so it will be a 'backs to the wall' effort for the remainder of the league campaign if the deserved favourable placing is to be maintained.

INJURIES: Craig Cook visited Hospital yesterday and was told that he should keep his cast on for another four weeks, which would mean he would miss the complete league campaign. He hopes to be back sooner.

Jozsef Tabaka has had a hand operation and it seems he will probably be out for the season.

As from Saturday these riders will be on slightly increased averages, widening the choce of available guests.

SPONSORING ON FRIDAY: The sponsors of Friday's double header are Keyline Falkirk.

SCUNTHORPE ON TRACK FOR PLAYOFFS: Scunthorpe seem to be certainties for a top six finish and have kept up consistently good form in spite of the continuing injury problems of their no. 1 David Howe.

They have been in a position to cover well with guests, and by signing Nick Morris in mid-season they strengthened their side considerably. He has done well, and English youngster Josh Auty has had an excellent season, taking the second reserve slot at Cardiff in the British GP which was vacated by Craig Cook's injury.

Thomas Jorgensen is another who has done well and of course Ashley Birks was very successful more than once at Armadale last season. The Scorpions will fancy their chances of adding to the 12 away points they have already gained.

BEARS A THREAT AGAIN: Redcar are languishing in a lowly league position but of course they are the one visiting team to have won at Armadale this season, inspired on that occasion by Aaron Summers and Ulrich Ostergaard.

They have since brought in the experienced Aussie Kevin Doolan, and look a balanced side who will again challenge the weakened Monarchs.

LAST MEETING: The Stormy Wethers testimonial was a successful event won by Matthew himself from Rory Schlein, who broke Ryan Fisher's two year old track record in the opening heat.

NEXT MEETING: On Friday 7th September Monarchs host the Ipswich Witches, another team in the hunt for that sixth Playoff place.

Full Result Details