MONARCHS NEED TO MAKE UP LOST GROUND

NEWS Tuesday 6th April 2010, 11:56am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs race against unbeaten Berwick Bandits home and away in the Premier Trophy this weekend needing points to make up for last Friday's home defeat.

The Bandits are at Armadale on Friday with the return at Shielfield on Saturday night. Monarchs will be at full strength for the fixtures and the minimum requirement will be a victory at home on Friday night. Bandits started with home and away wins over Workington.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER TROPHY MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 9th APRIL (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Ryan Fisher, Jozsef Tabaka, Kevin Wolbert, Matthew Wethers, Andrew Tully, Max Dilger, Kalle Katajisto.

A&J SCOTT LTD BANDITS: Adrian Rymel, Jade Mudgway, rider replacement for Lee Complin, Paul Clews, Michal Makovsky, Anders Andersen, Craig Branney.

TOPSY-TURVY SECTION: The opening weekend of the Premier Trophy northern section threw up some remarkable results ? only Berwick of the five competing teams won at home!

Newcastle came to Armadale and won. They went to Glasgow on Sunday and won. Berwick went to Workington on Friday and won. And finally Glasgow went down to Newcastle on Monday ? and won!

Very little of this would have been predicted so it seems anything can happen.

This leaves things wide open though both Berwick and Newcastle have gained more away than they have lost at home and so are theoretically better placed than the others.

Berwick are unbeaten so have certainly made the best start, whereas Workington and Edinburgh have gained nothing so far ? but it is very early days and no-one is out of it!

SEASON TICKET OFFER: The Edinburgh and Berwick promotions have agreed a special deal for this weekend whereby season ticket holders of the two clubs will be admitted for a ?2 discount at the other's track.

KEVIN IN ACTION; Kevin Wolbert scored 9 points (6th) in an individual meeting at Gustrow (Saturday) and contributed 4 to his team Grudziadz's home win over Poznan in Polish Liga 1 (Monday).

MATCH SPONSOR: The match sponsorship for Friday's match has been donated to the Michal Makovsky Testimonial Committee. Supporters can spend the night in the George Hunter Memorial Lounge for ?25 which gives them admission, programme, buffet and bar for the evening.

Tickets can be ordered from marketing@edinburghspeedway.com

GREAT START FOR BANDITS: Bandits have refused to buckle even though they lost Lee Complin with a broken arm in their first home match.

They have simply got on with the job and beat Workington home and away last weekend. Their away win was inspired by Rymel, Makovsky and reserve Branney with Makovsky pulling off a last heat pass on Andre Compton for a 1-point win!

Paul Clews though has been their best man on recent Armadale visits though Branney is certainly a danger man at reserve.

Monarchs simply must halt the Bandits' progress if they are to stay in contention in the section.

LAST MEETING: Monarchs had a night of machine problems last Friday and stumbled to a 44-46 home defeat by Newcastle, their first home loss to Premier opposition since August 2007. Kevin Wolbert (12) was top Monarch.

NEXT MEETING: Monarchs race Workington Comets at Armadale in the Premier Trophy on Friday 16th April.