PLACE IN THE FINAL TO BE CONTESTED

NEWS Wednesday 3rd July 2013, 6:18pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs and the Ipswich Witches will begin their League Cup semi-final tie at Armadale on Friday.

The Witches are on the crest of a wave having ended Workington's apparently impregnable home record with an away win last Saturday, and represent a major obstacle to Monarchs progress towards the final. Both teams obviously won their qualifying sections against their local opposition, and are aiming to go forward to the Final of the competition against either Newcastle or Sheffield. The Ipswich leg of the semi is on 25th July.

TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 5th July (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

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

IPSWICH SACKERS WITCHES: Ben Barker, Cameron Heeps, Rohan Tungate, Morten Risager, Leigh Lanham, Adam Ellis, Ritchie Hawkins.

FLYING WITCHES: There have been some amazing results this season, with no team now boasting a 100% home record in the Premier League, but the Workington home record was probably the one everyone thought would be toughest to break.

That was until last Saturday when the Comets, who themselves had burst Redcar's home record two days earlier, went down 43-47 at home to Ipswich.

One of the key men for Ipswich was flying Adam Ellis, the first season Premier rider born in France who impressed at Armadale last week when guesting for Leicester, and won two heats at Workington.

And of course they have Ben Barker at no. 1, a rider many feel was unlucky not to be included in the Great Britain World Cup squad.

COOK CALL-UP: Everyone associated with Monarchs will be keen to congratulate Craig Cook on his call-up for the British World Cup team for their first event at King's Lynn on Monday 15th July.

Home and away Craig has been magnificent this season and it would have been totally wrong had he not been included, something which means a great deal to him.

It's also an important week for Monarchs who race at Redcar and at home v Newcastle, but we will have to work round the GB commitments.

The club are proud to be playing a part in the career of an outstanding rider and wish him every success.

GLASGOW ON SUNDAY: The Scotwaste Monarchs travel to Ashfield on Sunday for another important Premier League match (start time 3pm).

The Tigers have a new-look side and will be tougher opposition than they were in the recent League Cup tie.

MATCH SPONSORS: Our match sponsors this week are James Banks Joinery, good friends and regular sponsors at Armadale.

IN-FORM WITCHES: The recent excellent form shown by Ipswich owes a lot to the solidity of their team, even though they have such a strong rider as Ben Barker at no. 1.

Their reserve pairing has been Adam Ellis and Cameron Heeps all season, though this week Heeps moves up into the top five. These two are highly promising prospects.

The middle pair of Aussie Rohan Tungate and Dane Morten Risager is also a very strong one. Tungate was probably best PL newcomer last season, and Risager's recent form suggests that the nig things predicted for him early in his career may yet come true.

Experienced Leigh Lanham rides at no. 5 and they also have experience down at no. 7 where recent signing Ritchie Hawkins returns after a recent absence.

Monarchs welcome guest James Sarjeant in place of injured Mitchell Davey who is expected to practise on Friday.

LAST MEETING: Monarchs eventually subdued Leicester by 52-37 even though the Lions were four up after 9 races. Craig Cook with 13 and Claus Vissing 12 were the top home men.

NEXT MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs welcome Glasgow Tigers to Armadale in the Premier League on Friday 12th July, before they set off for Rye House the next day and then Peterborough for the Fours on Sunday 14th.

Full Result Details