CAN WE QUALIFY AND SET A RECORD?

NEWS Tuesday 15th April 2014, 8:19pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs have made a superb start to the season and if they beat Glasgow Tigers at Armadale on Friday they will set a club record of seven successive wins at the start of the season.

Home and away wins against Workington last weekend also mean that a win on Friday will ensure qualification for the League Cup semi-finals. Derek Sneddon will make a decision later in the week on whether his back injury has healed enough to allow him to race this weekend, and if not rider replacement will again be used.

TEAMS FOR THE LEAGUE CUP MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 18th APRIL (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Craig Cook, Aaron Fox, Max Fricke, Derek Sneddon (capt.), Sam Masters, Justin Sedgmen, Steve Worrall.

GLASGOW TIGERS: Kevin Wolbert, Dimitri Berge, Rusty Harrison, Mark Lemon, Theo Pijper (capt.), Chris Widman, James McBain.

RECORD START: The Scotwaste Monarchs have won home and away against Glasgow, Berwick and Workington so far this season in equalling their 2008 performance of starting with 6 victories. Even then, there were only two away wins in the 2008 run.

A win on Friday will set a new record and the team might look to their overall record of successive victories – more on that once Friday is out of the way.

CAPTAIN’S COMMENTS: Reacting to talk of record-breaking feats, team captain Derek Sneddon says “I will be telling the boys in the dressing room not to get too carried away. It’s very early, we need to keep our feet on the ground – if you get too carried away that’s when this sport can bite you in the bum!”

MISSING DANES: Unfortunately due to a Danish Under-21 round on Saturday afternoon Glasgow will be without their reserve pairing of Anders Thomsen and Kasper Lykke Nielsen.

They would be entitled to a PL guest for Thomsen (the higher average) were one available, but on Good Friday with numerous matches being raced there are none!

Tigers will therefore use their own youngster James McBain (riding for Stoke this season) plus his Potters’ team mate Chris Widman.

EASTER EGGS: There will be Easter Eggs handed out at Armadale on Friday to the kids. It’s a case of first come first served so try to get there early!

NEW FRAMES FOR AARON: Aaron Fox will ride with new frames this weekend, feeling that the ones he has don’t suit him. He will get in some practise during the week down south. He says “Craig Cook wasn't comfortable on my frames and suggested making a change.”

RAIN-SOAKED TIGERS: Glasgow have fallen foul of the sport’s biggest enemy, the rain, and have only managed to race one home match so far this season. They have had three away, but are maybe still a bit race rusty.

They certainly don’t lack Armadale expertise as they have two Monarchs on loan in Wolbert and Pijper, plus Monarch of 2005-6 Rusty Harrison.

They would probably be most grateful to see their no. 1 Kevin Wolbert display his best form, because there is no doubt that the German should be a top Premier League performer.

Dimitri Berge has shown promise in his recent matches and will be worth watching.

Both Pijper and Harrison have Testimonials this season, Harrison’s (at Workington) having been recently rained off. Theo’s date has still to be decided.

GLASGOW ON SUNDAY: Monarchs head for Ashfield on Sunday (3pm) for their final League Cup qualifying match. If they don’t win on Friday this would be another chance to clinch qualification for the semi-finals.

LAST MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs beat Workington 55-38 at Armadale. Craig Cook top scored with a maximum, Max Fricke dropped points in just one heat but brilliant reserve Steve Worrall was DDS Monarch of the Match. The next day we also won at Workington, 50-43.

NEXT MEETING: The Premier League starts for Monarchs on Friday 25th April with the visit of Sheffield, starring Simon Stead.