REBELS AT ARMADALE PLUS THREE AWAY

NEWS Tuesday 5th July 2011, 7:58pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs will be on the road over the next two days before returning to race early-season pacesetters Somerset Rebels at Armadale on Friday.

Before that they will have met Somerset down south (Wednesday) and headed up to Sheffield for another match there on Thursday night. Completing the four matches in five days, Monarchs go to Newcastle on Sunday. They are due to have a full side other than the unavoidable absence of Kevin Wolbert on Friday, with James Grieves guesting.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 8th JULY (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: James Grieves (guest), Matthew Wethers (capt.), Andrew Tully, Kalle Katajisto, Craig Cook, Tim Webster, Kyle Howarth.

SOMERSET DICKIES REBELS: Travis McGowan, Anders Mellgren, Joe Haines, Sam Masters, Corey Gathercole, James Holder, Alex Davies.

KYLE IN: Although it was previously expected that Kyle Howarth would miss the match at Somerset due to a National League commitment at Belle Vue, this has now been postponed so he will join the team at the Oak Tree Arena.

Dudley's Tom Perry had been booked to guest but understood the situation when he was given the news.

INTERNATIONAL KEVIN: The Speedway World Cup starts this weekend (Vojens, Saturday) and Kevin Wolbert rides for Germany in an extremely tough first qualifying meeting against Denmark, Australia and Sweden.

Kevin would have ridden at Armadale on Friday but has been ordered to attend practise that day.

Also in the German team are 2010 Monarchs Max Dilger and Tobias Busch, though realistically they will struggle against such high quality opposition.

Other former Monarchs Rory Schlein and Thomas H Jonasson are also in a meeting which will hold great interest for Monarchs' supporters.

SENSATIONAL COOK: Fresh from his maximum at Leicester last Saturday night, Craig Cook highlighted his excellent current form by scoring 15 (plus 4 bonus) for his Elite League club Belle Vue on Monday night.

He beat all the Lakeside riders including international Lee Richardson.

RECENT VISITS: Monarchs are looking for points at three away venues this week. They last visited Somerset in September 2010 and gained a draw.

They have already visited both Sheffield (Cup) and Newcastle (Premiership) in 2011, losing by just 3 points at Newcastle but taking a thumping at Sheffield.

MEETING SPONSOR: Kumho Tyres and Linlithgow Tyres and Exhausts are sponsors of Friday night's visit from Somerset Rebels, and they will have all three of Armadale's Hospitality areas for the night.

REBELS STILL FLYING HIGH: Somerset made a sensational start to the season with four away wins in the first month ? Newport, Leicester, Sheffield and Ipswich. It looked even at that early stage that they were on their way to the title.

Things don't always go smoothly in speedway though, and they haven't quite maintained that form, though they are still in the top four in the Premier League table, just ahead of Monarchs.

They have recently made team changes, bringing in ex-British Under-21 Champion Joe Haines and Swede Anders Mellgren who started last Friday with a home score of 13!

Ex-Glasgow rider Travis McGowan and top prospect Sam Masters are probably the two leading riders, both Australians in a side which has five men from their country.

LAST MATCH: Last Friday the Scotwaste Monarchs came out on top in an excellent contest against Newcastle, winning 53-39 in the end. Top scorer was Craig Cook with 12, and he bettered that with a paid maximum 14 away at Leicester the next day in a match won 49-44 by Monarchs.

NEXT WEEK'S MATCH: Monarchs race home and away against Plymouth next week, with the Devils at Armadale on Friday 15th and everyone dashing off down south for the return at the St Boniface Arena.