AWAY WE GO…

NEWS Tuesday 12th August 2014, 9:43am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs embark on Tuesday on their busiest week of the season (by far) which includes a fascinating clash at Armadale on Friday with the reigning league champions the Somerset Rebels.

Monarchs have led the league all season but that position might be overturned before Friday, unless Monarchs enjoy some away success at Berwick, Somerset or Sheffield over the next three days. If Somerset have gone to the top by Friday, Monarchs will have the chance to overtake them with victory on Friday night!

THE TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 15th AUGUST (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

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

SOMERSET REBELS: Nick Morris, Charles Wright, Brady Kurtz, Pontus Aspgren, Ollie Allen (capt.), Todd Kurtz, Paul Starke.

REBELS CLOSE IN: The Scotwaste Monarchs for various reasons have not had a Premier League match since 18th July, and this has allowed their rivals to close the gap at the top of the table.

Since the Monarchs' last match, Somerset have lost at both Ipswich and Plymouth, but subsequent to these defeats have recorded home and away victories over both Sheffield and Rye House.

That has put Somerset onto 40 points from 8 home and 9 away matches, while Monarchs have 43 from 8 home and 7 away. Neither team has dropped a home point yet, although unlike Monarchs, Somerset did not reach the League Cup semi-finals or the Knockout Cup semi-finals – which helps explain how they have caught up on their league fixtures.

THE BIG WEEK: We are at Berwick tonight (Tuesday) in the Premier League match to be shown on Sky TV.

24 hours later we race at Somerset against the Rebels in a table-top tussle – and remember we won there last year in the Premier League in a classic encounter.

On Thursday we race at Sheffield where we will be up against their new signing Nico Covatti as well as Andre Compton back after his recent crash (also shown on Sky). The Yorkshire side have also recently brought back former British Under-21 champ Ben Wilson.

Of course we have the Rebels at Armadale on Friday and as if all that wasn't enough to earn us a rest, we head down to Newcastle on Sunday evening (7pm) for yet another rearranged match.

MATCH SPONSORS: Friday's big match against the Rebels will be sponsored by Kumho Tyres in association with Linlithgow Tyres & Exhausts. The sponsors will watch the match from the Hospitality area.

REBELS ON SONG: There's no doubt that Somerset are again serious challengers for honours in the Premier League.

They only have two riders back from their 2013 Championship team (Morris and Wright) but they have added further quality. Oliver Allen is the reigning Premier League Riders Champion (with Rye House last year), and teenager Brady Kurtz is probably the best newcomer of the 2014 season.

Pontus Aspgren was another capture from Rye House, and he was the most impressive Rebel in the early part of the season.

They are picking up good points at reserve as well with Todd Kurtz, brother of Brady, going well and Paul Starke continuing to make progress.

LAST MEETING: The Premier League match against Newcastle was rained off last Friday at Armadale.

NEXT MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs take on the Berwick Bandits, another team high in the Premier League table, on Friday 22nd August at Armadale.

Full Result Details