CHAMPIONS WILL BE A BIG TEST

NEWS Tuesday 4th July 2006, 0:01am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs will be tested to the full when Rye House come to Armadale on Friday.

The Rockets were outstanding champions last season, and even though they have had to release riders and have suffered injuries, they are still performing very well. Monarchs have not beaten them in a Premier League match since their own championship year in 2003. There is some disagreement at the moment as to how Rye House will line up.

THE ROCKETS' LINEUP

There are two question marks about the team lineup declared by Rockets' promoter Len Silver.

Firstly Monarchs' chairman Alex Harkess has queried the permission given to use a guest replacement for Edward Kennett.

?Kennett rides on Sunday in a Grand Prix qualifier at Zarnovice, that's why Danny Bird comes in as a guest.

?But our captain Theo Pijper is in the same meeting, and he will be at Armadale!?

Even more contentious is the reserve question. The BSPA has ruled that sensational Steve Boxall must move out of the reserve berth from 1st July, but Len Silver has said that this is contrary to the rule book and has listed Boxall at reserve.

This will have to be resolved by Friday which is Rockets' first match since the ruling became effective.

BRILLIANT BOXALL

It is an important matter to decide where Boxall should ride, because his form has been incredible.

He has a 10-point league average, has scored 20 points in a meeting twice, and in June scored 93 points in 6 matches for Rockets!

If permitted to ride at reserve he will be eligible for 7 rides.

NEWCASTLE ON MONDAY

The Scotwaste Monarchs ride at Newcastle on Monday. They won there by 1 point in the Premier Trophy, a result which suggested the team were going to be a force on their travels, but another good result would be required to reverse the trend of disappointing recent away performances.

SPONSOR ON FRIDAY

Friday's meeting will be sponsored by Keyline Broxburn, their second sponsored match of the season.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 7th JULY (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

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

RYE HOUSE SILVERSKI ROCKETS (Possible): Danny Bird, rider replacement for Jamie Courtney, Ross Brady, Tommy Allen, Chris Neath, Danny Betson, Steve Boxall.

ROCKETS STILL FORMIDABLE: Rye House may not be quite as strong as last year's championship team, but they are still a good side and especially well suited to riding Armadale.

In form Danny Bird comes in as a guest for Edward Kennett, which probably strengthens them, and with Chris Neath, Bird forms a fine spearhead.

Ross Brady was a Monarch of 2005, and was signed by Rye House to replace injured star Stuart Robson. He has had an up and down time, but certainly could do well back at his former track.

Boxall may have to move into the side (see previous story) and if he does, he will replace Courtney and the Rockets will have to name another reserve.

MONARCHS' LINEUP: The Monarchs change their riding lineup due to the new team averages. The top two are Theo Pijper and William Lawson who must ride at nos. 1 and 5.

MOLLER IN UNDER-21 FINAL: Henrik Moller scored 9 points at Pocking on Sunday in the semi-final of the World Under-21 Championship, qualifying for the final at Terenzano, Italy on 2nd September. He recovered well from a first ride engine failure and won two heats.

THEO'S BIG DATE: Theo Pijper is again competing in the Grand Prix qualifiers this season and has a big meeting at Zarnovice (Slovakia) on Sunday. He must finish in the top six of a powerful field to reach the final, from which the top three go into the 2007 Grand Prix.

LAST WEEK'S MEETING: Monarchs beat Newport 53-37 after struggling for the early part of the meeting. William Lawson (13) and Theo Pijper (12) were the top home scorers.

NEXT WEEK'S MEETING: The visitors on 14th July in a Premier League match are Redcar Bears, a much improved side led by Gary Havelock. After that Monarchs head for away fixtures at Rye House and Mildenhall.