TAKING ON THE REBELS - HOME AND AWAY

NEWS Tuesday 6th September 2011, 8:59pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs race Somerset this week, heading for the south west on Wednesday with the return at Armadale on Friday.

The Rebels were the early pace setters in the league with FOUR away wins in April, and though they haven't maintained that form, they have strengthened their side in the past week with the introduction of James Wright who has started strongly for them. Somerset are still well placed for a top three finish.

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

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Kevin Wolbert, Kalle Katajisto, Andrew Tully, Matthew Wethers (capt.), Craig Cook, Byron Bekker, Kyle Howarth.

SOMERSET REBELS: Sam Masters, rider replacement for Christian Hefenbrock, Dakota North, Corey Gathercole, James Wright, Alex Davies, James Holder (capt.).

AWAY MATCHES: The Scotwaste Monarchs race at Somerset on Wednesday and at Workington on Saturday, both in phase one matches.

Wednesday's visit to the Oak Tree Arena is the restaging of the match in July, rained off with riders and fans ready for action.

In the case of Workington, the first attempt was washed out early and the match on 6th August got to heat 9 before torrential rain called a halt with the Comets well ahead.

Clearly Monarchs could do with some success to improve their league position, and it is a fact that the Workington team has been in some turmoil due to changes and injuries recently.

Monarchs are at full strength except that Tim Webster stands in at Somerset while Byron Bekker rides for his NL club.

There's another away match coming up next week for Monarchs who travel to Redcar next Thursday (15th) for a phase two fixture.

If all these matches go ahead there will be three home (Somerset, Leicester, Newport) and four away (Somerset, Leicester, Newport and Plymouth) matches remaining of the league programme.

Away successes will be needed for anything like the target of a top six finish.

SILVER FOR KYLE: Kyle Howarth deserves congratulations for coming second behind Jason Garrity in last Saturday's National League Riders' Championship.

It was a good performance for a rider as young as 17, particularly as it was squeezed between meetings at Armadale on Friday and on Sunday at Belle Vue.

A tough programme successfully negotiated.

MEETING SPONSORS: Friday's match will be sponsored by Linlithgow Tyres and Exhausts in conjunction with Kumho Tyres.

REBELS HIGH IN TABLE: Somerset have an attractive side and feature some good performers not seen too often at Armadale. Sam Masters has moved up to no. 1 and he is an Aussie with great potential who did well on his only previous appearance at the track.

Dakota North was the key man in the Rebels' early season successes, and it was his departure through injury which had most to do with their less successful spell. He is an impressive rider previously seen at Armadale with Newcastle.

James Wright is the most experienced man at Armadale, and a former Scottish Open Champion (2009). He was dropped by Workington but performed brilliantly in both his last match for Comets and his first for Rebels, suggesting that the Workington loss is the Somerset gain.

A man to watch could be Alex Davies, another Aussie introduced in mid-season and starting to score well in the reserve berth.

Christian Hefenbrock broke his leg at Scunthorpe last Sunday so rider replacement operates for him. His only previous Armadale meeting was not a successful one.

LAST MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs were at full power for the visit of Scunthorpe and recorded their biggest win of the season by 64-25. Andrew Tully, Kevin Wolbert and Matthew Wethers were all unbeaten.

NEXT WEEK'S MATCH: The Scotwaste Monarchs will have a week off and there is no meeting on Friday 16th September at Armadale.

Full Result Details