Edinburgh Monarchs v Glasgow Tigers

The track was wet, some points were lost but there was no hiding the potential in the young Monarchs? team as they won the opener against Glasgow.

In truth the margin of victory should have been much greater, but Monarchs lost numerous points through over-trying plus a bit of mechanical trouble for Thomas Jonasson on his new machines.

But the plusses far outweighed the minuses with a thrilling debut for Ryan Fisher, excellent maximums for William Lawson and Derek Sneddon and great potential throughout the side.

The weather disappointed us and the track was pretty wet prior to the start. It was clear that the riders had to take care, and several spun off during the evening.

Glasgow had Shane Parker at no. 1 and he made a good enough start in the first heat, but locked up on the second bend. Derek Sneddon and Ryan Fisher took advantage to go through, and riding as steadily as the conditions allowed, took an opening 5-1.

We should have added another maximum in heat 2. Andrew Tully and Aaron Summers were on a 5-1 after an excellent first turn (especially Aaron round the outside), but with the points in the bag Andrew fell foul of the conditions and fell on the top bend.

Lee Dicken gated in the rerun and Aaron fell while challenging, gifting a 5-1 to Glasgow.

Heat 3 should have been a 5-1 as well! Davey was excluded (harshly) after being caught outside Jonasson on the first turn, but in the rerun Lawson and Jonasson quickly moved clear. Round about lap 3 Thomas?s machine gave him problems and he dropped back to third.

Robert Ksiezak made a blinding start in heat 4, and Matthew had to work his way past Dicken to limit the damage to a 2-4.

Jonasson?s machine problems continued into heat 5. He eventually emerged on Derek Sneddon?s bike, but had exceeded the two minutes. It was then decided to use Tully rather than Jonasson on a borrowed machine off 15 metres, but it all took too long and Andrew was also excluded on 2 minutes.

Undaunted, William Lawson headed Parker home for his second win. Scores were level though we might have been well clear at that point.

The next two heats put us in the driving seat. Fisher and Sneddon took an easy 5-1 in heat 6 over Ksiezak, and we had another from Andrew Tully and Matthew Wethers over Leverington in heat 7.

Derek Sneddon rode a remarkable first corner in heat 8 to ease round the outside of the faster starting Bergstrom and Docken, and rode steadily to share the heat.

Jonasson was back on his own bike for heat 9, but was unluckily excluded after seeming to be brought down by Ksiezak moving across the turn. So once again William was on his own, and again he won easily.

Derek?s four-ride maximum was on the line in heat 10, and he led the way. Ryan Fisher had got squeezed out on the outside of the first corner, but soon came hard under Davey. He made up ground on Leverington, but unfortunately entered the third bend too fast and rammed the Glasgow man. Trent gave Ryan a shove but things soon calmed down.

That meant Derek had to go for his max again, and although he led, he lifted off the fourth turn and Leverington passed him. Then Davey fell off and Derek had another chance! He did well to win a good battle with the Tigers? man, and that was 10 paid 12 for the skipper.

We were now 9 up, just a point short of the TR level, and this stayed the same with Parker winning heat 11. Tully had to come from the back to ensure a shared heat.

Thomas fell again on the first corner of heat 12, to his obvious frustration. It looked like a 2-4 till Leverington fell, and Aaron took his first 3-pointer for Monarchs.

Heat 13 was by far the best of the night, featuring some magical riding by Fisher and Parker as they passed and re-passed. They just kept coming back at each other and kept the crowd enthralled. Parker just edged the win.

William made it four out of four in a heat 14 4-2, and he was out again with Ryan in the final race, clinching an easy 5-1 over Ksiezak with Parker this time trailing.

In the end the home fans would be happy with the display, and the margin gives us a decent chance of taking the Spring Trophy whenever we get around to having the second leg.

HERMISTON MONARCH OF THE MATCH: William Lawson

Edinburgh Monarchs v Glasgow Tigers

Your favourite Friday of the year is here again as speedway returns to sunny Armadale with old foes Edinburgh and Glasgow going head to head in the Spring Trophy.

Both sides were raring to go last Sunday but, sadly, the only winner was the weather. Therefore, this meeting becomes the first leg. The season openers are always keenly contested and there?s no reason to suggest the 2008 version will be any different.

Generally speaking, the Monarchs have the upper hand in this competition, although the last two attempts have been about as successful as Hibs? Scottish Cup exploits since 1902!

Friday will see no less than four (and possibly five) riders make their Armadale debut. In the home camp, Ryan Fisher and Thomas H Jonasson will be keen to get their setups perfected for the coming weeks while Glasgow's young Australians, Mitchell Davey and Josh Grajczonek, will probably think they?ve entered the North Pole when they arrive at the track!

At the time of writing, no announcement has been made as to who will wear the number 2 race jacket for the Tigers following Ross Brady?s unfortunate pre-season skiing accident but, whilst on the subject, I?d like to take this opportunity to wish him all the best and a speedy recovery.

The remainder of the riders on show are hugely familiar. In the away camp, the ever consistent Shane Parker always enjoys stirring controversy (in a good way of course!) while fellow countrymen, ex-Monarch Robert Ksiezak and Trent Leverington are no strangers to the Lothian Arena. Leverington probably wouldn?t describe this as his favourite track but, fair play to him, at least he always turns up, unlike certain others I could think of...

With no less than five Aussies in their side, Tigers certainly have an Antipodean flavour in their pits. Add to that the two who will be wearing Monarchs? race jackets (Matthew Wethers and Aaron Summers of course) and dare I suggest Friday will see a record number of Kylie Minogue?s pals competing in an Armadale clash. We couldn?t even scrape seven together when the Kangaroos came visiting last season!

One pleasing aspect of the Monarchs? 2007 struggles was the continued improvement from our Scottish contingent, namely captain Derek Sneddon, William Lawson and Andrew Tully. Sneddon was a steady performer, especially at home, and will surely relish ?only? being fifth in the order of green sheet averages. Lawson made great strides in both the World Under 21 scene and also in Elite League circles. Meanwhile Tully stormed into the Premier League picture so well he rode practically a full season in the top 5! The fact he?s back at reserve should see him returning some useful points and we all know how vital decent reserves are.

Personally, I have to say I?m looking forward to this season (although I was optimistic about 2007 as well ? oops!). The team looks pretty good and I?m sure we?ll be competitive both at home and on the road, which was sadly not the case at various times last year. Time will tell if my ?happy mood? is misplaced but, as always, I just hope the opening night sees all riders emerge unscathed.

Here?s to an exciting encounter. I hope everyone enjoys their speedway. And remember folks... wrap up well!

May the best team win...

Line-ups:

Monarchs: Ryan Fisher, Derek Sneddon, Thomas H Jonasson, William Lawson, Matthew Wethers, Aaron Summers, Andrew Tully.

Tigers: Shane Parker, A N Other, Trent Leverington, Mitchell Davey, Robert Ksiezak, Josh Grajczonek, Lee Dicken.