TOUGH TIE IN PROSPECT

NEWS Wednesday 7th October 2009, 3:22pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs will attempt to overturn a 9-point deficit when Newcastle come to Armadale on Friday in the second leg of the Premier Playoff semi-final.

The Diamonds have had a tremendous finish to the season, finishing third in the Premier League which is one place below Monarchs. They have a really solid side and with two TRs at their disposal if required it will be a tough prospect for Monarchs to ensure an aggregate victory. Monarchs await a fitness report on Andrew Tully.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER PLAYOFF SEMI-FINAL SECOND LEG AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 9th October (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

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

NEWCASTLE DIAMONDS: Kenni Larsen, Derek Sneddon, Jason King (capt.), Rene Bach, Mark Lemon, Adam McKinna, Trent Leverington.

TULLY QUESTION: News of Andrew Tully's fitness is awaited. If he isn't ready for Friday then rider replacement will again operate.

This picked up a mere four points at Newcastle on Sunday even though everyone else is available for a ride.

PREMIER PLAYOFFS: The other Premier Playoff semi-final is King's Lynn v Birmingham, and the two legs of that are being raced on successive Wednesdays 7th and 14th October. If Monarchs qualify, they will have only two days notice of their next opponents at Armadale on 16th October!

KNOCKOUT CUP FINAL: It is surely safe to say now that Monarchs will race King's Lynn in the Knockout Cup final after the Stars beat Scunthorpe 70-20 in the first leg of the second semi-final.

Remarkable to think that over the two league matches between the teams, Scunthorpe outscored King's Lynn, but it shows the power that the league champions have.

It also puts some perspective on Monarchs' 38 points there last week, which left us a little disappointed.

King's Lynn surely only need to turn up at Scunthorpe for Friday's 2nd leg.

SCOTTISH CUP ON SUNDAY: Monarchs travel to Glasgow on Sunday for the second leg of the Scottish Cup, holding a 60-30 advantage from the Armadale leg last week. Start time at Ashfield is 4pm.

MATCH SPONSOR: Friday's match sponsor is Gerry Reid of Reid Tax Consultants, Dalkeith Road Mews, Edinburgh.

Gerry first came to Armadale as a guest of the Spylaw Tavern on their night as meeting sponsors.

POWERFUL DIAMONDS: Newcastle have had a great finish to the season and have been going as well as anyone in the league in recent weeks.

They have two excellent young Danes in Kenni Larsen and Rene Bach, the latter having been signed mid-season. Larsen rode in the Under-21 World Final last weekend and missed the Newcastle leg of this semi.

Mark Lemon was also an addition to the Diamonds' side having been surprisingly dropped by Newport, and he has had a new lease of life on Tyneside.

Add in captain Jason King, top average Diamond last year, and ex-Monarchs' captain Derek Sneddon, and you can see why they have been doing so well ? they had late season wins at Glasgow and Newport plus a draw at Redcar to jump up the league table into a Playoff place.

LAST MEETING: Monarchs had an easy 60-30 win in the first leg of the Scottish Cup against Glasgow. Both Ryan Fisher and Kevin Wolbert rode unbeaten.

NEXT MEETING: There will be Speedway at Armadale on Friday 16th October but the opposition and competition will depend on the outcome of Friday's contest as well as matches elsewhere.