Edinburgh Monarchs v Glasgow Tigers

Glasgow deservedly took three points from this encounter and took a giant step towards the Premier League title which seems well within their grasp now.

They owed an immense amount to Nick Morris who gave probably the best reserve?s display ever at Armadale. To dominate the home reserves is one thing, but to run rings round several of the home top five is quite another, and that?s what Morris did.

The track was deeper than usual and several riders found it difficult to ride. You would not have thought that watching Morris who reveled in it with outstanding control and the ability to turn tight and pass coming out of the turns ? the essence of a good speedway rider.

For the home side, Kevin Wolbert and Andrew Tully were both excellent. Wolbert pulled off a couple of superb second bends to squeeze outside Joe Screen (heat 1) and Aaron Summers (heat 15) when there seemed to be little space. Tully was hugely impressive throughout and only dropped points in the final race.

The others were below par though each of Matthew Wethers, Kalle Katajisto and Craig Cook contributed something. Katajisto was unlucky to have a puncture in heat 8 which he initially led, though it did seem that Morris was passing him anyway.

The reserves though struggled throughout, coming down a few times, and both withdrew from the meeting before the end.

The Tigers simply needed to provide adequate support for Morris in order to win. Guest Summers had a fine meeting but the others were up and down, doing just enough, with Screen looking quite uncomfortable at times.

Monarchs led at three separate stages of the match and with three heats to go any result still seemed possible, but the Glasgow men blocked out Wolbert on the first corner of heat 13 to take an advantage there, and a maximum victory in heat 14 ensured victory.

Struggling or not, it was surprising that Screen did not take on the responsibility of trying to earn the fourth point in heat 15. It was duly lost.

Edinburgh Monarchs v Glasgow Tigers

In a reversal of the roles we have been accustomed to in recent seasons, Monarchs face their biggest challenge of the season so far when they entertain the Premier League's form side, Glasgow Tigers at Armadale on Friday (7.30).

Sheffield may head the league table marginally on points and will no doubt help to keep any complacency among the Ashfield side at bay right to the end of the season, but with matches in hand and at least three more away wins on their record, Glasgow are in by far the stronger position.

For Edinburgh's part, they have greatly improved their home form since their shock early season loss to Leicester but another home loss would be a serious blow to their ambitions and would cement them in the sixth place from which they have been trying to escape for a few weeks now.

Kevin Wolbert has stepped up to fill the No.1 place vacated by Ryan Fisher at Armadale but it will be crucial that he is not totally eclipsed by Joe Screen, the one-time Belle Vue Aces star who was riding for the Manchester club before the fast improving German was born.

Two former outstanding Monarchs reserves line up in opposition at No.2. The 2010 version, super Kalle Katajisto will also have to be at his very best against the 2009 version, Michal Rajkowski who was known for his very fast starting technique in his time in the blue and gold.

Andrew Tully is the first of three middle order riders who will have to live up to their higher averages than their opposite numbers. With Christian Henry likely to be unfit, the flying Scot will be trying to match the rider replacement scores of four different Tigers.

It is to be hoped that Monarchs' reliable skipper Matthew Wethers can also rise to the occasion and eclipse Glasgow's recent signing, 21-year-old Australian Richard Sweetman whose break from speedway that he had requested from his PL club Leicester lasted only a week.

As usual, Craig Cook will find life tough at No.5 where he faces a rider in James Grieves who may have a lower average but who has around 14 years more experience of the Scotwaste Arena than the up-and-coming Cumbrian star who is having such an impressive season.

Monarchs young reserve pairing were totally outshone by their counterparts at Ashfield on Sunday and will hope to do better on their home shale, even though they are both very much newcomers to the Premier League, never mind the tight Armadale circuit.

High scores from Nick Morris have not been enough to move him up from reserve for the Tigers and amazingly the No.7 slot will be filled by former Monarchs captain, No.1 and track record holder, Dutchman Theo Pijper who is nevertheless exceeding his low starting average.

So this should prove to be the most evenly matched meeting between the sides for many years with Glasgow having a big advantage at reserve and Edinburgh looking to compensate with top performances from the main body of their side. You won't find a keener contest anywhere in speedway!

Likely line-ups:

EDINBURGH SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Kevin Wolbert, Kalle Katajisto, Andrew Tully, Matthew Wethers (capt.), Craig Cook, Tim Webster, Kyle Howarth.

GLASGOW A-PLANT TIGERS: Joe Screen (capt.), Michal Rajkowski, rider replacement for Christian Henry, Richard Sweetman, James Grieves, Nick Morris, Theo Pijper.