Sheffield Tigers v Edinburgh Monarchs

This was a much talked-about match but it was probably the first time this season that we haven?t come up to expectations.

There were two main reasons for that ? firstly we couldn?t gate, and secondly we made just about the worst start possible.

After Ashworth had made the gate in heat 1, our new opening pair of Fisher and Lawson settled in to the minor placings. However Parsons sailed past Lawson at the end of lap one, and on the back straight of lap two, BOTH Monarchs? riders stopped at virtually the same moment.

For both riders, it was a bad blow-up and desperately unlucky. For the team, it was a 0-5.

Smethills made the gate in heat 2 and was chased home by Tully and Summers.

We expected Thomas to like the track, and so it proved in heat 3 as he chased Compton all the way.

However we were continually being beaten to the first turn, and this kept on happening. The first nine heat winners were all from Sheffield, and we lost 5-1?s in heats 4, 6 and 8.

Fisher was now on his Armadale engine and his high hopes of doing well were blown along with the engine. Jonasson took a TR ride in heat 7 but could do no better than second to Wilson.

The locals confirmed that their team was performing far better than they had done in recent weeks, and it certainly seemed they were well prepared for us.

Heat 9 was a concern as Andrew drifted into the fence round the first corner and took a clatter to the ankle and the bike. Thankfully he eventually rose and refused the ambulance ride.

We finally got a race win in heat 10 as Jonasson flew round to beat Ashworth by miles. However the score was 40-21 and the match was gone.

We shared the next couple of heats with Andrew back on board in heat 12 and taking second.

William split Wilson and Ashworth in heat 13 as Matthew completed a disappointing night on 4 points. Wilson was something of a revelation with his speed.

The last two heats were about our best all night! Thomas always looked a likely winner, and Aaron was really on the pace now, pulling off a very good outside overtake on Cooper to complete the 5-1.

Ashworth was an easy winner of heat 15 but Aaron and Thomas fought a tough battle for the minor places with the previously invincible Compton.

He eventually cut inside Thomas and blocked him out but Aaron stuck to a profitable outside line to record a notable second place.

Sheffield Tigers v Edinburgh Monarchs

A trip to Sheffield has never been the most fruitful in the past but something tells me things may end up somewhat closer this time.

Monarchs have won only once at Owlerton in the current Premier League era, the lone victory coming in 1997. Those were the days of six man teams and Derrol Keats (speedy recovery Sir), so it wasn?t exactly yesterday. Typically, my first visit was in 1998 and I?ve only missed a few South Yorkshire trips since so feel free to call me a jinx!

The Tigers have an excellent home record and, despite the fact Workington Comets lowered their colours recently, they remain one of the most difficult sides to beat on their own patch. Top men such as Andre Compton and Ricky Ashworth can be pretty spectacular to watch, although the latter hasn?t been quite as impressive as some may have expected (including yours truly, who picked him for his fantasy league team!). Compton is, of course, a former PLRC winner (albeit aided by home advantage) and a good friend of Monarchs? favourite Peter Carr.

Partnering Ashworth is Joel Parsons, who once famously picked a fight with Wayne Carter at Armadale in 2003! The all action Aussie has progressed rapidly in recent years and is definitely one rider I wouldn?t mind becoming a Monarch in the future.

The remaining members of the Tigers? top 5 are Paul Cooper and Ben Wilson. Both are known for their strong home form, although they have also encountered various mutterings about their less than wonderful away form over the years.

Reserves, as we all know, can be hugely important and representing the home side are two guys who are no strangers to Northern speedway, namely former Berwick Bandit Sam Martin and Lee Smethills, who has ridden for the likes of Workington and Glasgow during his career. Martin remains an injury doubt and, at the time of writing, it?s not yet clear as to whether he?ll be making a comeback for this one. Should he miss out, it is likely young Kyle Hughes will continue to deputise.

In the Monarchs? camp, I have to say it?ll be nice to have seven riders on show again! Both William Lawson and Thomas H Jonasson missed last Friday?s demolition of Isle of Wight but now return to the fold. Much has been said about the fact Jonasson should enjoy the super fast Owlerton circuit, so it will be interesting to see if he can live up to this billing. Certainly, if we are to have any chance of success, the young Swede?s contribution will be key.

Elsewhere, American Ryan Fisher and skipper Derek Sneddon will be pleased they don?t have to race alongside each other (apart from heat 15 perhaps!) and, while Fisher will be aiming to continue his recent rich vein of form, Sneddon will simply be looking for better luck than he enjoyed last year, when his meeting lasted no further than the first bend. The resulting pile up left him with neck lacerations and a lift into the back of the Ambulance.

Our Australians, Matthew Wethers and Aaron Summers, have done extremely well this season. During previous visits, Matthew has impressed the Sheffield faithful (hardly surprising, considering he impresses pretty much everyone!) and his consistent scoring throughout the country is most welcome as far as we?re concerned.

Finally, special mention must go to Andrew Tully, who became the first ever Monarch to score a full 21 point maximum. Now, what would be the best way to follow that? A repeat performance perhaps?! No pressure young man!

The Owlerton circuit is my personal favourite in British speedway so, regardless of the result, I can confidently say I?ll enjoy this meeting. Here?s hoping everyone else does too!

As always, may the best team win...

Likely line-ups:

Tigers: Ricky Ashworth, Joel Parsons, Andre Compton, Paul Cooper, Ben Wilson, Sam Martin (or Kyle Hughes), Lee Smethills.

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