THREE IN THREE DAYS AGAIN

NEWS Wednesday 22nd July 2015, 6:11pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Once again this week the Border Roofing Monarchs have three matches in three days with the Rye House Rockets being the Armadale visitors on Friday in the Premier League.

With Sam Masters still on the sidelines, guests are required and this week Richie Worrall will stand in at Redcar in the KO Cup match on Thursday, Steve Worrall again guests at Armadale on Friday and Brady Kurtz will come in for the PL match at Plymouth on Saturday. At least he will have a shorter journey than the rest of the team! Of course the good news this week is that Rob Branford returns after a six-week absence.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 24th July (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

EDINBURGH BORDER ROOFING MONARCHS: Stevie Worrall, Justin Sedgmen, Kevin Wolbert, Erik Riss, Craig Cook (capt.), Max Clegg, Rob Branford.

RYE HOUSE ROCKETS: Eddie Kennett, rider replacement for Kasper Lykke, Anders Mellgren, Robin Aspegren, Nikolai Busk Jakobsen, Luke Bowen, Danny Maassen.

INJURIES: A frustrated Sam Masters has his right hand wired and in plaster and will visit Hospital on Friday to check on the injury’s progress.

He is talking optimistically about returning sooner rather than later, and admits he hates sitting around, but in truth no-one can say yet what his prospects are.

This will be the last week of using guest replacements as long as everyone else stays fit, as Craig Cook returns to number 1 a week on Saturday, 1st August.

Rob Branford’s tryout last Sunday in the National League at Mildenhall was a complete success, a 15 point maximum score for Rye House Raiders with no ill effects, so Rob returns to the side on Thursday.

KO CUP: The Armadale leg of the KO Cup quarter final against Redcar will now be staged on Saturday 1st August.

Redcar were not keen to return on the Friday due to the absence of Stuart Robson, and Monarchs’ Erik Riss rides in Germany on the Friday in any case.

Riders and fans will have a dash to Peterborough for the Fours the following afternoon.

The Harrison’s Scottish Open originally scheduled for 31st July will be restaged later on a date to be announced, hopefully very soon.

READMISSIONS: Check the information on the website at http://www.edinburghmonarchs.co/news/article.asp?id=2129 for details on admission for either season ticket or non-season ticket holders who paid for admission to last week’s abandoned match.

SPONSORING ON FRIDAY: Sponsors of Friday’s meeting will be our old friends from Keyline Broxburn who will watch the action with their guests from the George Hunter Memorial Lounge.

ROCKETS LOOK SOLID: Rye House Rockets have not had a great season though looking at their team, they really should be able to hold their own.

Last year their top man Edward Kennett was probably the best visitor to Armadale, and his then-partner Luke Bowen also did so well that the pair scored two 8-1 heat results! Bowen is now down at reserve so potentially a strong weapon for the Rockets.

The middle pair of Mellgren and Aspegren, both Swedes, are now experienced in the UK and should be a good pair, though they have not been going all that well. Both are eligible for rider replacement rides for Kasper Lykke Nielsen who is very close to a return from his injury.

Dane Nikolai Busk Jakobsen will be making his Armadale debut, and he is a very good prospect and former World Under-21 Finalist.

LAST MEETING: The Border Roofing Monarchs were leading Redcar 16-14 at Armadale last Friday when bad weather caused an abandonment.

NEXT MEETING: On Saturday 1st August Monarchs race Redcar in the second leg of the KO Cup quarter final at Armadale.

Full Result Details