SCOTTISH CUP THIS WEEK

NEWS Wednesday 9th October 2013, 9:23pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs have qualified for the Premier Playoff Final which will decide the 2013 Premier title, but the Armadale leg won’t be until next Friday (18th). In the meantime the Scottish clubs meet this Friday in the second leg of the Scottish Cup, with Glasgow holding a 23-point lead from the first leg.

With Craig Cook required by the rules to ride in the Elite League for Belle Vue, and Glasgow missing several riders, it will be two unusual lineups which take to the track on Friday. It will be James Grieves’ final appearance at Armadale (his 99th!) and of course we will be keeping tabs on what is happening down south in the vital Somerset v Newcastle Playoff match.

TEAMS FOR THE SCOTTISH CUP MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 11th OCTOBER (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Morten Risager (guest), Max Fricke, Claus Vissing, Jozsef Tabaka, Theo Pijper, Liam Carr, Derek Sneddon (capt).

GLASGOW TIGERS: Ricky Wells (guest), Henning Bager, James Grieves (capt.), rider replacement for Anders Thomsen, Thomas Jorgensen, Ashley Morris, Joe Jacobs.

THE PREMIER PLAYOFFS: Just a reminder of the position in the Premier Playoffs – the Scotwaste Monarchs finished their group with 11 points to Workington’s 8 and Ipswich’s 0.

In the other group, there have been three home wins – Newcastle and Somerset over Redcar, and Redcar over Newcastle, with no away points gained.

The remaining fixtures are this week: Redcar v Somerset (Thursday), Somerset v Newcastle (Friday), Newcastle v Somerset (Sunday).

The size of the away defeats for Redcar suggest that they won’t qualify, and Somerset could make an important move if they can gain something at Redcar on Thursday.

Thereafter the two matches between Somerset and Newcastle become crucial.

Assuming the weather doesn’t intervene, we might know on Friday who we will be racing for the title, or if not we will know by Sunday.

GRIEVES FAREWELL: James Grieves has been Scotland’s unofficial no. 1 for 15 years or more, and he was a successful Monarch in 1999. He will make his 99th and final Armadale appearance on Friday, having scored well over 1,000 points at the track.

At 39, with a young family, he is bowing out after a career of well over 20 years, with numerous honours including four league titles.

In Monarchs’ colours he won the KO Cup in 1999 (and Monarchs haven’t won it since!) Rival or not, he is assured of a warm send-off on Friday.

THE SCOTTISH CUP: This competition was not staged in 2012, and the current holders are Glasgow who won in 2011. However Edinburgh lead 23-15 in the series which started in 1951.

STRONG GUESTS: Glasgow have had one of their most unsuccessful seasons on-track, and of course this week have had to endure a disastrous fire at Ashfield which has destroyed their bar, new this season and a facility all supporters have appreciated.

However they do have a very good chance of winning some silverware in this meeting! Monarchs did themselves no favours with their lineup for the first leg, and in any case rode poorly on that occasion (with Cook and Fricke missing).

Cook is missing again due to the new ruling which insists that an Elite League match for his club takes precedence, and Monarchs have invited back Morten Risager who went well last week for Ipswich. Obviously Cook is irreplaceable.

Glasgow have produced two extremely strong guests in Sheffield’s American Ricky Wells and Scunthorpe’s Thomas Jorgensen standing in for Joe Screen and Dakota North.

They are also using Ashley Morris at reserve, even though he has a higher average than both the rider he is replacing (Joey Ringwood) and the missing Anders Thomsen who is placed in the top five with rider replacement operating. This ensures that Morris (9 on his last visit) can take rides in Thomsen’s place.

LAST MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs defeated Ipswich 53-37 to complete their Playoff matches ahead of the other two sides. Craig Cook top scored with 14 points.

NEXT MEETING: On Friday 18th October the Scotwaste Monarchs will, assuming the other group has been completed, race the first leg of the Premier Playoff Final.