TROPHY FAVOURITES VISIT ON FRIDAY

NEWS Tuesday 4th April 2006, 10:00am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs made a good start by beating Glasgow last Friday, but they might find the going even tougher this week with Newcastle the visitors in the Premier Trophy.

The Diamonds have a powerhouse heat-leader trio of George Stancl, James Grieves and Pepe Franc, probably the strongest top three in the league ? and they all know Armadale well. For years Newcastle were regarded as Monarchs' bogey team though they last won at Armadale in 2002 ? Monarchs will need to be at their best to prevent the bogey returning!

THIS WEEK

Three very hard fixtures face the Monarchs this week ? away at Sheffield on Thursday, and after Friday's clash Monarchs race Newcastle away on Sunday (6pm).

All matches are in the Premier Trophy.

Captain Theo Pijper views the week positively: ?I like the track at Sheffield and Rusty does too because these are the kind of tracks you like to race.

?We will need to see how Henrik is going to go there ? I know he can gate well and go fast, and he is light enough. I feel positive about going to Sheffield.

?We have Newcastle home and away this weekend, and I watched them put together a very good side. They have three very strong riders. We just need to outgate them at Armadale to make sure we have a good lead for Sunday.?

SEAN THWARTED

Monarchs' reserve Sean Stoddart was due to ride at Buxton last Sunday in the British Under-21 Championship but unfortunately the meeting was rained off. We have no news of the restaging yet.

Fellow Monarch Andrew Tully was riding in the Lincs FM Trophy at Scunthorpe on Sunday but suffered a shoulder injury in his first ride. He is not seriously hurt.

FIXTURE CHANGE

The Premier Trophy visit of Berwick, rescheduled to fit in Glasgow last week, will now be on 16th June.

SPONSOR ON FRIDAY

Sponsors of Friday's match will be The Monarchs Grand Draw, the amazingly successful weekly draw which has been assisting the club since October 1993.

TEAMS FOR THE SPRING TROPHY MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 7th APRIL (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

EDINBURGH SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Henrik Moller, Theo Pijper (capt.), Matthew Wethers, William Lawson, Rusty Harrison, Derek Sneddon, Sean Stoddart.

NEWCASTLE DIAMONDS: George Stancl, Christian Henry, Manu Hauzinger, Josef Franc, James Grieves, Adam McKinna, Jamie Robertson.

DIAMONDS WILL BE CONTENDERS

The Diamonds' lineup definitely has the look of one put together with trophies in mind.

That of course is what the Tyneside fans like ? they didn't enjoy seasons 2003-4 when they languished near the foot of the league. Last year their side were much improved and especially with the signing of Stancl, they have stepped things up this year.

Christian Henry, still a Monarchs' asset, could well be a danger man back at Armadale, and young reserve Adam McKinna knows the place well from his Dale Devils days.

So far Newcastle have had a comfortable win at Berwick, a slightly fortunate home win over Workington and a very unlucky defeat at Stoke by one point. They have also suffered as much as anyone with the rain, losing 3 home meetings so far.

LAST WEEK'S MEETING: Monarchs defeated Glasgow 42-36 in the first leg of the Spring Trophy. Theo Pijper and Derek Sneddon scored 10 points each. The match was abandoned after 12 heats but the result will stand.

NEXT WEEK'S MEETING: Visitors to Armadale next Friday (14th April) in the Premier Trophy will be Workington. There will be an aggregate bonus to be contested as well as the two match points. Comets gained a draw on their last visit in August 2005.