A WIN NEEDED TO MAKE THE SEMIS

NEWS Wednesday 8th May 2013, 6:49pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs face Glasgow Tigers at Armadale on Friday knowing that victory will clinch their place in the semi-finals of the League Cup.

It’s rarely completely straightforward when the Tigers come calling, and this week Monarchs await news from Claus Vissing who crashed out of the meeting at Scunthorpe on Monday (latest news below). Glasgow have been doing well at home, winning four out of four, though their away form has been less good. The young riders in their side have been doing well and justifying their inclusion.

TEAMS FOR THE LEAGUE CUP MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 10th May (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

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

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

CLAUS UPDATE: It sounds like good news from Claus Vissing after his alarming crash at Scunthorpe on Monday, in which he injured a shoulder.

He has been for a check up and there is nothing broken. “It is just the muscles which were hurt,” he reports, “but today (Wednesday) it feels a lot better.

“The worst thing is actually my little finger which I caught under the clutch lever and tore off the nail!

“However I am sure that I will be OK for Friday, I need to ride and the team needs to win.

“I don’t know what went wrong on Monday, usually I like Scunthorpe. I hope that will be all of my bad luck for the season.”

NORTHERN SECTION: Edinburgh have six points from their two matches in the Northern League Cup section, from home and away wins over Berwick.

Berwick have four points but their matches are completed, and Glasgow have two with home and away matches against Edinburgh to come.

Therefore two points from their home and away matches against Glasgow will be sufficient to ensure Monarchs top the section. A win on Friday by any score would do that.

Sheffield are winners of the Midland section, Newcastle are virtually certain to win the Border section and the Southern section seems to lie between Ipswich and Rye House.

MEETING SPONSORS: Friday’s match against Glasgow will be sponsored by Keyline Broxburn who have been backing Armadale meetings for many years.

Keyline boss Fraser McDowell said “It’s our first night sponsoring this season and we’re delighted to be back. Of course I have been looking at the weather forecast again! I think Monarchs have made a great start to the season and the team is looking good, fingers crossed.”

THINGS GOING WELL IN THE WEST: Glasgow introduced three new riders this season and must have wondered how long it would take them to settle in.

In fact with four home victories so far they must be very pleased, and each of the youngsters has scored well at Ashfield. Last Sunday’s two-point win over Newcastle, reportedly a thriller, featured race wins for each of Joey Ringwood, Harley Horwood and Joe Jacobs.

At the more experienced end of the team, Joe Screen scored paid 26 over home and away matches with Newcastle and seems to be coming into his best form.

Grieves, Wright and Bager are all capable of winning heats anywhere and with the confidence of these home successes, for sure Glasgow will be looking to build up their home form.

LAST MEETING: Last Friday’s match against Scunthorpe was rained off in the morning on a dreadful day in an otherwise good week. Luck must improve sometime, surely.

NEXT MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs return to Premier League action with a visit from the new-look Plymouth side on Friday May 17th.