Playoff Race Heating Up

After our tremendous performance at the East of England Showground last week the Peterborough T Balfe Construction Panthers will be looking for revenge as they visit Armadale in Premier League action tomorrow night.

The Panthers have been one of the most inconsistent sides in the Premier League this year with some tremendous away performances being matched by some woeful and surprising home results but they currently sit 5th in the table and were victors at Armadale as recently as the corresponding league fixture last year! It has to be said though that the line-up that ran out victorious that night is vastly different being as it contains not 1 rider the same as the sextet heading north tomorrow evening so we can probably discount that.

That’s not to say there is no Armadale pedigree in the Peterborough side being as they contain 2 former PLRC champions, 2 former Monarchs and the most improved fast track reserve so far this season in their ranks.

One man missing from the Panthers line-up is young Dane Nikolai B Jakobsen who was due to slot in at number 2. This is a great shame as for my money Jakobsen was one off if not the most impressive visiting rider at the Dale last season and while he has not kicked on in quite the same way as many would have expected he still is showing flashes of his undoubted potential. Nikolai is currently 3rd in the averages meaning extra rides are available for all bar the number 1.

Number 3 for the Alwalton men is young Englishmen Tom Perry. Perry has made a mockery of his fast track reserve status at the beginning of the season adding more than 2 points to his average and while a recent injury alongside promotion into the main body of the team has slowed him down somewhat if he finishes the season at a 5 point average he will be more than happy with his years work.

Joining Perry in the engine room is experienced Dane Ulrich Ostergaard. The combative figure can never be discounted and is the reigning PLRC holder after his somewhat surprise victory at Sheffield last September. Ulrich of course stood in for the Monarchs for Ryan just a fortnight ago and acquitted himself well although a few Monarchs fans may remember a tussle he had with Thomas H Jonasson when he was with Reading and on a personal level he’s due me a new shirt after showering me in shale at the pairs at Somerset a couple of years ago....... I guess I’ll forgive him if he puts in a substandard performance tomorrow night.

At 5 is another Dane in Emil Grondal. It is somewhat a case that as Grondal goes as do the Panthers as at his brilliant best he is a match winner but there have not been enough flashes of that this season for the Panthers faithful. At only 21 time is on Emil’s side as he look’s to make his mark in the speedway world.

Senior reserve is recent recruit and former Monarch Ashley Morris. Many will remember Ashley’s spell with us at the infancy of his career back in 2011 and may wonder why he has not reached the heights that his potential looked like it would take him to. Again though Ashley is still a youngster at only 22 so still has the chance to make that next step.

Normally I would go on about a fast track reserve at number 7 but somehow that is not the case with the Panthers due to some averages jiggery pokery that honour goes to the aforementioned Perry so riding at number 7 is Zdenek Holub. The Czech was first sighted on these shores with Scunthorpe last season and has found the going tough. Peterborough are sticking by him though and it will be interesting to see if he can repay this faith.

So that’s the Peterborough line-up. I don’ think I’ve forgotten anyone have I.........

Oh wait a minute I forgot to mention the Panthers number 1. Well I guess this guy needs no introduction but here we go. Double league championship winner, double league cup winner, knockout cup winner, PL Fours winner, PLRC champion, British final runner up, 3 appearances in the British GP and the 2nd highest average for a Monarch in history(how’s that for a 5 year stretch).

It’s the one and only Craig Cook. Cookie is still a Monarchs asset and the love flows both ways on this one. Craig will admit that we saved his career and what a pleasure it was to witness this as one of the fastest and most exciting riders in the history of the Premier League. It was with regret that we bode farewell to Cookie at the start of the season and it is such a shame that foreign leagues are not as accommodating of incoming riders as the British leagues are that meant that Craig could not make the jump to international rider only. I’m sure his return will generate the biggest ovation for any rider so far this season and every bit of it is truly deserved.

Hoping to spoil this homecoming of sorts will be our very own Border Roofing Monarchs. After the 4 points gained at Peterborough last week we have now gained 12 points on the road (the second most in the league) and this should be enough for an end of season playoff place should we maintain our unbeaten home record. This will be easier said than done as the last 2 weeks have shown with our sluggish start against Scunthorpe and squeaker of a win last week against Rye House. With no disrespect to either of our previous two opponents tougher tasks lie ahead though as we have currently only faced one of the other playoff spot teams at Armadale so far.

The biggest boost of these last two victories has been the sparkling form of our reserves. Max has consistently put points on the board at home but the last few weeks has seen Dan Bewley really come into his own. I’m not sure if it’s a change in makeup or setup but Dan has been flying from the starts and his steady riding his is being rewarded with some big scores. Paid 12 from 5 rides at the East of England Showground on his track debut there being an unbelievable return. The rest of the team are maintaining the form they have showed so far. Sam is aiming to be the top man in the league and his continued excellence in all countries and teams he rides for a true testament to the ability he has. Kevin and Ryan are backing Sam up well with either always capable of popping out and winning any heat they are in. Erik continues to impress and is making great strides in his second season and while Mark has found the going a little tougher the last couple of weeks we have all seen what he is capable off so far.

It is lining up to be an exciting end to the season as the Monarchs look to push on and do what no team has done in the modern Premier League era and complete a hat trick of titles. With some big matches to come Armadale is the place to be every Friday night.