A BIG WEEKEND - AND ANDREW IS DOUBTFUL

NEWS Monday 3rd August 2009, 6:04pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs return to the Premier League having suffered weather, team and fixture problems in recent times. Sheffield Tigers come to Armadale on Friday with away matches at Berwick (Saturday) and Glasgow (Sunday), all league fixtures.

At this point Andrew Tully has to be rated ?very doubtful' after crashing at Wolverhampton on Monday and aggravating his hip injury. Monarchs have currently ridden fewer league matches than anyone else in the table.

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

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Ryan Fisher, Michal Rajkowski, Max Dilger, Matthew Wethers (captain), Andrew Tully, Aaron Summers, Byron Bekker.

SHEFFIELD WINDOW CENTRE TIGERS: Ricky Ashworth (captain), Chris Mills, Joel Parsons, Richard Hall, Josh Auty, Hugh Skidmore, Paul Cooper.

ANDREW TULLY: Andrew took part in Wolverhampton's Gary Petersen Memorial Trophy on Monday but crashed heavily after making a great start in his opening ride. His machine failed on the first turn and threw him off.

This was Andrew's first meeting since crashing during Monarchs' home Premier Trophy semi-final against Scunthorpe on 24th July.

He said ?I don't think I was fit to ride anyway. You never really know if you are fit to ride a bike ? until you try to ride one!

?I didn't feel comfortable on the parade and after I had made a great start in my first heat, I found I could not easily make the movements you need for balance.

?The bike stopped anyway and threw me off, and of course I landed on the hip again.?

Andrew was visiting Hospital again today, and he said ?In a way I'd like them to find something wrong because at the moment I don't really know what the problem is.

?Unfortunately at this point I don't really see how I can be ready for the weekend matches.?

If Andrew isn't fit to ride Monarchs will be left with just three of last year's championship side ? Fisher, Wethers and Summers ? due to a combination of rules, injuries and Thomas Jonasson's withdrawal.

AWAY MATCHES: Start times at the weekend are 7pm (Berwick) and 4pm (Glasgow).

MATCH SPONSOR: Friday's match at Armadale is sponsored by James Banks Joinery of West Calder, regular sponsors at Armadale. JBJ have hired both Hospitality areas for the evening.

TIGERS LYING SECOND: Sheffield did not make a great start to the season but they have improved greatly in recent weeks, and have slipped into second place in the league with 8 away points gained so far.

They have made only one change, bringing in talented 18 year old Australian Hugh Skidmore to replace injured Ritchie Hawkins. Skidmore has done very well and scored a maximum on his home track last week, but even so he has slipped into the reserve berth.

He could be a danger, and their top man on their two previous visits this year has been Josh Auty, one of England's best young prospects.

Captain and no. 1 Ricky Ashworth is likely to have a better meeting than on his last visit when he failed to score due to bike problems.

LAST MEETING: The big individual classic the Scottish Open was rained off last Friday in spite of valiant efforts to beat the weather. The meeting will be restaged later in the season and sponsors will be contacted with their options once the situation is completely clear.

Some comments from John Campbell on the effects of the recent weather problems will be posted on the website later in the week.

NEXT MEETING: Stoke Potters visit Armadale on Friday 14th August in the Premier League.

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