DRAMATIC CHANGES BY WASPS

NEWS Wednesday 1st July 2009, 7:07pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs return to action as a team for the first time for a fortnight with two matches this weekend - home to Newport on Friday and away to Rye House on Saturday.

Newport have made sensational changes in the last few days by dropping their top average rider Mark Lemon and introducing Leigh Lanham from the Elite League and also new Swede Jonas Andersson, who replaces out-of-touch veteran Brent Werner. Monarchs are also seeking a new signing but there is no concrete news on that yet as rider replacement remains the option for the absent Thomas Jonasson.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 3rd JULY (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Ryan Fisher, rider replacement for Thomas H Jonasson, Michal Rajkowski, Andrew Tully, Matthew Wethers (captain), Aaron Summers, Sean Stoddart.

NEWPORT WASPS: Leigh Lanham, Chris Kerr, Jonas Andersson, Paul Fry, Jordan Frampton, Shelby Rutherford, James Holder.

ALL CHANGE: Newport have had only limited success on track so far this season, and indeed their promoters have recently expressed concern at the crowd levels at Queensway Meadows.

Their answer has been team changes - the two moves this week mean that only three riders - Chris Kerr, Jonas Andersson and Jordan Frampton - remain from the team which started the season.

The big news though is the introduction of Leigh Lanham who had been released by Lakeside, the Elite League club. He should be a major star in the Premier League.

To make way, Mark Lemon has been left out even though he had by far the highest average in the team.

While Mark may feel disappointed, the other change which brings in Swedish teenager Jonas Andersson for veteran American Brent Werner is no surprise - Werner had been struggling.

Earlier in the season Paul Fry had come in to replace the injured Craig Watson, and Shelby Rutherford from Western Australia had moved in to a reserve berth.

PREMIER TROPHY SEMIS: Dates have been set for the semi-finals of the Premier Trophy. The first leg will be at Scunthorpe on Saturday 11th July (6.30pm start) and the return at Armadale on Friday 24th July.

The visit of Redcar due on that day is put back to 11th September. The other semi is King's Lynn v Workington.

MEETING SPONSOR: First-time sponsors of Friday's visit by the Newport Wasps are Red Rose Management Consultancy Ltd of Livingston, already sponsors of Aaron Summers.

CHANGES LOOK GOOD: There's no doubt that this week's changes have added spice to the visit of Newport on Friday. Monarchs will still expect a win but the prospect of seeing Leigh Lanham, who has gone well at Armadale in the past, and an exciting new Swede, definitely adds to the interest.

The 19 year old Andersson impressed spectators at last Sunday's Welsh Open (in which Monarchs' Ryan Fisher finished second) by scoring 8 points. He rides for Vargarna in the Swedish Elite League and follows several other young Swedes who have successfully come in to Premier League racing this year (Eklof, Sundtsrom, Ludvig Lindgren).

American Chris Kerr is another who has had Armadale success in the past, though he has had a disappointing year so far. Young Englishman Jordan Frampton scored 14 at Armadale two years ago and has had some successful Elite League outings with Coventry this year.

LAST MEETING: Monarchs beat Workington 56-34 two weeks ago in the first leg of the KO Cup quarter final, and completed the job when they went down 43-47 at Derwent Park. Ryan Fisher scored 15 points in both legs.

NEXT MEETING: It's the BIG one - Friday 10th July, League Champions Edinburgh take on this year's most successful team so far, the King's Lynn Stars, with sensational Darcy Ward coming to Armadale for the first time.

Full Result Details