LEAGUE POINTS REQUIRED

NEWS Wednesday 7th August 2013, 6:24pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

With all of the top sides in the Premier League piling up points, it is essential for the Scotwaste Monarchs to take all three points against Sheffield on Friday even though the Tigers have shrewdly selected track expert Andrew Tully as guest.

He replaces Simon Stead, regrettably out for the season with a broken leg, and no-one needs to be told how formidable Andrew is at Armadale. The Yorkshire side also field Ricky Wells, impressive in last week's Scottish Open, Adam Roynon and Andre Compton, so no-one will be taking them lightly.

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

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

SHEFFIELD TIGERS: Andrew Tully (guest), Joe Haines, Ricky Wells, Andre Compton, Adam Roynon (capt.), Damien Koppe, Facundo Albin.

THE PREMIER LEAGUE: It's so tough at the top of the table that it is worth taking a weekly look at the standings.

Monarchs are lying third at the moment but all of the leading sides are winning regularly, and not just at home.

The most realistic way of looking at things is the ranking system which balances points lost at home against points gained away, and on this system the current top team are Newcastle (+15).

The point Monarchs gained at Berwick last Saturday put them on +10 along with Workington and Ipswich.

Redcar are on +9 and Somerset +8, and then there is a gap down to the seventh team Leicester who are on +3.

The message is that Monarchs are well placed to reach the Playoffs (6 teams qualify) but certainly can not rest on their laurels – any points lost at home are bad news, and they need their generally good form away to continue!

AWAY MATCHES: Monarchs travel to Glasgow on Sunday for the second leg of the Spring Trophy, a match postponed from early in the season. Monarchs hold a 28-point lead from their home leg.

Duddingston Private Hire are running a bus for just £5, leaving Waterloo Place at 1:30 and picking up at Murrayfield which could suit anyone coming from the Hearts v Hibs match.

"I want to take as many Monarchs' fans through as my contribution to the Tigers' fence fund," said DPH owner Derek Wilkinson.

Next Thursday Monarchs travel to Sheffield for their next away Premier League match, definitely looking to gain league points.

MEETING SPONSORS: Friday's match is sponsored by James Banks Joinery, the second time in recent weeks that JBJ have backed Armadale meetings.

This one is actually a special event for a close friend of James.

TIGERS' CHANGES?: The above is the team submitted earlier in the week by Sheffield subject to injury concerns over Haines, Albin and Koppe.

It has since been announced that Haines has retired from the sport, which presumably means rider replacement will apply, giving rides to Wells, Compton and the reserves. It's unfortunate that Haines (who rode his first match at Premier level for Monarchs at Birmingham) has had injury problems during his career which have undoubtedly affected him.

However on Friday Sheffield's hopes will lie with Tully, Wells, Roynon and Compton, all capable of doing well, plus whatever their reserves can pick up. Facundo Albin has ridden Armadale before in second half rides, and did win a heat this season at Rye House.

If Koppe is fit to ride, which we gather is unlikely, it will be his Armadale debut.

LAST MEETING: Craig Cook fittingly added his name to the list of Scottish Open winners, heading home Patrick Hougaard, Theo Pijper and Rory Schlein in that order.

NEXT MEETING: On Friday 16th August Monarchs face one of their toughest matches of the season against the highly impressive Somerset Rebels, tipped by many for the League title. Monarchs won at Somerset earlier in the season in a classic, but the return could be just as tight.

Full Result Details