ARMADALE ACTION RETURNS AT LAST

NEWS Tuesday 2nd April 2013, 5:23pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs will at last return to their home circuit this Friday night (7:30) when Glasgow Tigers provide the opposition in the first leg of the Spring Trophy.

There are two new Monarchs and four new Tigers this season and fans will be keen to see how their teams shape up after the long wait. Monarchs started with a good performance at Berwick last Saturday, and chairman Alex Harkess said “Nobody had any problems and everyone emerged unscathed. Now we need to step it up for our first home match and get a good lead.” It’s the first time since Armadale’s first season in 1997 that there hasn’t been a home match in March, and the fans are thirsting for action!

TEAMS FOR THE SPRING TROPHY FIRST LEG MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 5th April (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Craig Cook, Derek Sneddon, Theo Pijper, Max Fricke, Claus Vissing, Marcel Helfer, Jozsef Tabaka.

GLASGOW WESTERN COMMERCIALS TIGERS: Joe Screen, Joey Ringwood, James Wright, Henning Bager, James Grieves, Harley Horwood, Joe Jacobs.

THE SPRING TROPHY: Monarchs and Tigers have staged an early-season challenge Trophy 26 times since 1980.

Monarchs have the more aggregate victories by 15-11, but on the other hand Tigers have won more of the matches, 25-24 with three draws.

The current holders are Edinburgh with Glasgow having last won the Trophy in 2011.

ACTION SO FAR: Monarchs raced at Berwick last Saturday and lost 45-47 in the first leg of the Cock o’ the North Trophy.

Craig Cook scored 14, Jozsef Tabaka 11, Claus Vissing 9, Theo Pijper 8, Derek Sneddon 2, Marcel Helfer 1 and Max Fricke 0.

Team captain Derek Sneddon said “Last Saturday from my own point of view was bad, my bike in my first two rides was absolutely terrible, no power at all. I’ll just put it down to blowing the cobwebs away.

“Cookie was on fire and everyone else did their job. Back at home this week and we’re all ready to go!”

HOSPITALITY BOOKINGS: As well as full bookings of the Hospitality Lounges, this season individuals and small groups can take advantage of the VIP packages and can book these online, by emailing info@edinburghmonarchs.co or by phoning 07977 151612.

Costs are £30 per head, £15 for season ticket holders, or £10 for ages up to 18. This entitles the VIP package holder to watch from one of the two Hospitality Lounges with food, a free bar and a complimentary match programme.

SEASON 17: Friday’s match will kick off the 17th season of Speedway at Armadale.

HOW WILL THE NEW TIGERS FARE?: That’s what the red and white army will be wondering as they head for Armadale on Friday.

They won’t have many fears about top man Joe Screen or James Grieves will do – Grieves needs just 6 points to reach 1,000 at Armadale, a remarkable total for a visiting rider with just one season in Monarchs’ colours.

Screen is one of the most experienced riders in the Premier League and though he has had a few disappointing Armadale nights, he certainly knows how to get round.

James Wright, new signing, won the Scottish Open in the first meeting of 2010, and Henning Bager has also been a double figure man at the track.

So really most of the question marks are at the foot of the order, and what supporters will be hoping is that Horwood, Ringwood and Jacobs show promise rather than necessarily score a lot of points.

NEXT MEETING: It’s one of the most important matches of the season at Armadale on Friday 12th April, the visit of Leicester Lions in the first leg of the KO Cup first round tie, with the return at Leicester the following night.