ELEVEN POINT LEAD FOR ASHFIELD

The Scotwaste Monarchs made a great start in the Super Cup first leg, had a 'blip' in the middle and finished strongly to leave the Super Cup well balanced with a 52-41 lead for Sunday.

There was a very good 'buzz' about Armadale witha good spirit on the terraces and some interesting action on the track.

Monarchs' no. 1 Kevin Wolbert was the star of the show with a superb 15-point maximum, and when Monarchs took a 24-12 lead after heat 6 it did seem that we were on the way to a big advantage.

From the early stages, a special mention should go to Dudley's Tom Perry for a heat 2 win on his first Armadale ride.

A 12-point lead looked promising but course that was when things went wrong. The dreaded TR intruded on proceedings with James Grieves winning heat 7 for a 6-pointer, then in heat 8 Matthew Wethers unaccountably fell gifting Tigers a 5-1.

Heat 9 was a bit of a disaster too; Monarchs were on a 4-2 with Andrew Tully getting the better of Aaron Summers, when Kalle Katajisto fell making a big effort to catch Aaron. The rerun went to Summers and the gap was down to 29-28!

Undaunted, Monarchs took a 4-2 from heat 10 with Wolbert winning again in spite of a strong challenge from Grieves, and Wethers passing Henry.

Cook brilliantly won heat 11 from the back, and Tully took heat 12, so Monarchs led by just 3 points with three heats left.

Heat 13 looked like a big one, but Wolbert and Cook made it look easy as they headed Screen and Summers.

Heat 14 also went our way when Grieves fell on the first turn, almost running into Dicken. James removed himself from the track, discussed the incident with the Monarchs track staff and with Dicken beating Rajkowski, we took another 5-1!

Of course you can never discount Grieves and he led the final race, but the irresistible Wolbert surged down the back straight to go ahead. The Tigers' pair held Cook at the back, and that left us with a lead of 11 points.

It could have been more, but we had to be happy with how the night went.

Edinburgh Monarchs v Glasgow Tigers

All the pressures of the Premier League can be forgotten this weekend because it's local derby time again when the Glasgow Tigers visit the Scotwaste Arena in the first leg of the Super Cup on Friday (7.30), with the second leg at Ashfield on Sunday (4.00).

The origins of the Super Cup will remain a mystery for a while longer although most fans will be hoping it's the offer of free Super Lager to the spectators - in both legs ? now that would guarantee sellout crowds! But no matter the trophy, there's always local bragging rights at stake.

Kevin Wolbert will test out Tigers' No.1, Joe Screen, in the Armadale leg but the German star will be riding in his native country on Sunday and will be replaced by a guest. Joe may be the wrong side of 40 now but he is enjoying his new role as the PL's version of all-action Chris Harris.

Edinburgh captain Matthew Wethers will be very familiar with his opposite number Theo Pijper who shared in many winning moments in his previous life as a Monarch. The popular 31-year-old Dutch long track specialist seemed to be lost to speedway but has received a favourable average this term.

On-fire Andrew Tully will be relishing the challenge posed by 30-year-old Christian Henry who was riding for Monarchs before young Andy made his debut for the Dale Devils. Christian actually switched from Monarchs to Tigers in 2003 thus missing out on a league championship win.

Kalle Katajisto will continue to try to build bridges with the fans after some patchy performances this season but he will have his work cut out against another of the SIX Tigers who have at one time or another ridden in the blue and gold, Armadale's favourite pantomime villain James Grieves.

Craig Cook never gets an easy opponent and that sequence will continue when Aaron Summers guests at No.5 for the unfortunate Josh Grajczonek who will be a huge miss to the Tigers. Spud was another popular Monarch whose form was not unlike Kalle's before his switch to Birmingham.

Lee Dicken will hope to continue his gradual return to point scoring ways when he lines up against his former club in the person of Adam McKinna, standing in as guest for the injured teenage sensation Nick Morris who had been making a nonsense of his 4.44 starting average.

Glasgow's trump card could well be at No.7 where Michal Rajkowski did so much damage for Edinburgh in the 2009 season. The ever-popular Polish racer will face whatever Conference League guest or guests the Monarchs can find to replace the fast improving Kyle Howarth.

For the first time in a long time the smart money will no doubt be on a Tigers win over the two legs. But Monarchs have been showing amazing resilience in the face of adversity of late and they will fancy their chances of winning both legs every bit as much as Glasgow will. Bring it on!

Likely line-ups:

EDINBURGH SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Kevin Wolbert, Matthew Wethers (capt.), Andrew Tully, Kalle Katajisto, Craig Cook, Lee Dicken, NL guest for Kyle Howarth.

A-PLANT TIGERS: Joe Screen (capt), Theo Pijper, Christian Henry, James Grieves, Aaron Summers (guest), Adam McKinna (NL guest), Michal Rajkowski.