LEAGUE LEADERS VISIT

NEWS Thursday 1st June 2006, 9:49am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Sheffield Tigers are the early leaders of the Premier League, and are close to clinching their place in the semi-final of the Premier Trophy ? a win on Friday for them would make it certain.

The Scotwaste Monarchs want to take victory by more than 12 points which would give them the aggregate bonus, and keep their own slender semi-final hopes alive. Sheffield are having an impressive season and their young lineup should ensure plenty of entertainment on Friday.

LAWSON BLOW

Monarchs' perennial ill luck with injuries reared its head again this week with the bad news that William Lawson has a fractured left elbow.

The talented 19 year old has been burning up the tracks for both Monarchs and Elite League Wolverhampton, and has put more than an incredible 3 points on his Premier average.

We will have a better idea next Monday how long his absence is likely to be, as he revisits hospital for further examination.

The rider replacement facility with which Monarchs have to cover the Lawson absence does not benefit yet from his improved average ? his new figure will only apply from 1st July, more than three months since the season started.

Until then he remains on his 2005 figure of 4.61. His rides will be shared by Theo Pijper, Matthew Wethers and the two reserves.

SPRING TROPHY

Monarchs lost by two points on aggregate in the Spring Trophy, losing 41-49 on Monday and 83-85 on aggregate.

Ironically they would have won on aggregate had William Lawson completed heat 14 in second place behind his partner. That heat has proved a fateful one for Monarchs.

WILSON AWAY

There will be rider replacement on both sides on Friday as Sheffield's UK Under-21 Champion Ben Wilson will be at practise for the British GP at Cardiff, where he has been awarded a reserve berth.

SPONSOR ON FRIDAY

Autostores A1 Motorstore of Bathgate are sponsors of Friday's meeting against Sheffield.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER TROPHY MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 2nd JUNE (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

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

SHEFFIELD PIRTEK TIGERS: Ricky Ashworth, rider replacement for Ben Wilson, Kyle Legault, Emiliano Sanchez, Andre Compton (capt.), Paul Cooper, Benji Compton.

GOOD YEAR FOR TIGERS

Sheffield have had a very successful season so far with their mainly young team showing all-round improvement.

Their win at Somerset in one of the early Premier League matches was a significant one; the Rebels are not easy to beat at home and it was a fine effort.

As well as Compton, Ashworth, Sanchez and Legault have all had good meetings at Armadale and it will be a test of the current position of both teams on Friday.

It would have been interesting to see how Ben Wilson would have fared in view of his recent UK Under-21 win at King's Lynn ? however he isn't an Armadale specialist and has failed to score on his last two visits.

LAST WEEK'S MEETING: Monarchs defeated Isle of Wight 56-35 on a wet and heavy circuit last Friday. The match was close early on before Monarchs took control. After bad weather during the day the track staff worked hard before and during the meeting, and the riders put on a good show in the conditions. Both team captains were presented with a bottle of champagne as a thanks for their efforts. Top Monarchs' scorer was Rusty Harrison with 14, a paid maximum.

NEXT WEEK'S MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs have one of their most important home matches of the year against the King's Lynn Stars, one of the sides tipped for honours this season.