Edinburgh Monarchs v Scunthorpe Scorpions

The final margin between the sides wasn’t too large but in all honesty this was not one of the better matches at Armadale, because it was too predictable.

There were precisely no close contests for the race victories. The home team took 13 of them, and it would have been 14 but for an unlucky crash in heat 11 for Craig Cook after losing a chain leaving the second bend.

However there were one or two interesting tussles for the minor places, mostly involving Max Clegg and Nike Lunna, and these gave the event such interest as it had.

Scunthorpe actually took the lead in heat 2 when Lunna won the heat after Rob Branford had fallen on the first bend. Carl Wilkinson passed Monarchs’ guest Kevin Doolan in heat 3 to keep the scores level, and it took a good ride by Max Clegg backing up Cook to give the home side the lead in heat 4.

Thereafter a predictable pattern was established, with Sam Masters, Kevin Wolbert and Craig Cook winning their heats with ease from the gate until Cook crashed out.

Doolan gave good backup and the home reserves tried hard to get amongst the points.

Carl Wilkinson rode consistently for the Scorpions, and Josh Auty at least managed one win when given the chance. Theo Pijper scored in all his rides without being particularly impressive, while Alex Davies improved after a slow start but lost points when he piled into the fence towards the end of heat 12.

Lunna had already been at Armadale and it was no surprise that he provided much of such entertainment as there was.

With rider replacement and the Cook accident, the home reserves had to take 13 rides which, popular as they are, was a little bit much.

Edinburgh Monarchs v Scunthorpe Scorpions

After going through most of last season with the same seven riders, this time around Edinburgh Monarchs start the defence of their Premier League title at Armadale against Scunthorpe Scorpions without two of their regular line-up, Justin Sedgmen and Erik Riss.

Erik is nursing a broken collar bone sustained at Workington in a celebratory accident after recording a 5-1 with Justin while coincidentally Justin is also absent on Friday, in his case due to riding in a Grand Prix Qualifying Round at Gorican in Croatia.

However with rider replacement at No.2 and a guest, the six-man Monarchs side faces a Scorpions side who are a mirror image without their captain, David Howe who injured himself away from the track and young reserve Ellis Perks who fell heavily riding for Cradley.

And with the new green sheet averages in force, both teams have new faces at No.1. The vastly impressive Sam Masters deservedly fills that slot for Monarchs while the two-time British U-15 Champion, Josh Auty who is still only 24 makes a similar move for Scunthorpe.

Both sides operate rider replacement at No.2. Erik Riss should have his rides covered by Kevin Wolbert and the reserves whereas David Howe's rides can be taken by any of the Scorpions except Josh Awty. On paper this gives the visitors a marginal advantage.

So Monarchs will not have their usual all German second pairing, although the popular and determined Kevin Wolbert takes his usual place at No.3. Moving up the riding order to face him is the 18-year-old Finnish rider with the 'early Neil Collins' haircut, Nike Lunna.

Armadale regular, Berwick's Kevin Doolan should prove to be a like-for-like replacement for Justin Sedgmen at No.4 where he faces an equally experienced all-action rider from Boston in Lincolnshire, Carl Wilkinson now 34 and a firm favourite with Scunthorpe fans.

Monarchs skipper Craig Cook will be looking to capitalise on his drop down to No.5 as it coincides with a superb recent burst of form. He'll need no introduction to his opposite number, Theo Pijper, who is making the most of his signing as a short term replacement.

Cradley skipper, Max Clegg continues to impress in his move into the Premier League as Monarchs' first reserve. Again, he'll be well acquainted with his opposite number as it's Cradley team mate Matt Williamson, standing in as a straight replacement for Ellis Perks.

Bringing up the rear at No.7 is the Monarch who should pile up the points once he masters the Armadale track, Rob Branford. Facing him is a potential trump card for Scunthorpe, 22-year-old Alex Davies from Northampton who has previously featured for Newport and Somerset.

With Edinburgh travelling to Scunthorpe for the return fixture on Monday, these two sides are likely to be fairly evenly matched over the two legs, but the top end fire-power of Sam Masters and Craig Cook should tip the balance in favour of Monarchs at Armadale at least.

Further down, the one-night-only pairing of Kevin Wolbert and Kevin Doolan against the exciting Scorpions duo of Carl Wilkinson and Theo Pijper should be intriguing, while there should also be a serious battle for supremacy among the reserves.

With both sides having far from their usual line-ups, it makes this one harder to call, but if Monarchs can impose themselves early on, they could make their first Premier League points more likely. But there's no doubt your support from the terraces will make a difference. Tapes up at 7.30 sharp.

Likely line-ups:

EDINBURGH BORDER ROOFING MONARCHS: Sam Masters, R/R for Erik Riss, Kevin Wolbert, Kevin Doolan (guest), Craig Cook (capt.), Max Clegg, Rob Branford.

FLUIDAIR POWER SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS: Josh Auty, R/R for David Howe, Nike Lunna, Carl Wilkinson, Theo Pijper, Matt Williamson (guest), Alex Davies.