MORE ACTION AT LAST

NEWS Wednesday 3rd September 2014, 7:45pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs have had a quiet time as a team recently but return to action this Friday when Sheffield are the visitors to Armadale.

They then travel south to race the unpredictable Rye House on Saturday. Monarchs are at full strength while Sheffield field top man Simon Stead and exciting newcomer Nico Covatti, making his Armadale debut. Having several fixtures in hand over the teams now above them in the Premier League, Monarchs need points if they are to grab one of the two seeded positions to select their opposition in the Playoffs.

THE TEAMS FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 5th SEPTEMBER (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.)

SHEFFIELD TIGERS: Simon Stead, rider replacement for Andre Compton, Leigh Lanham, Taylor Poole, Nico Covatti, Ben Wilson, Josh Bates.

PREMIER LEAGUE: Lack of matches is making it tougher for Monarchs to reach the position they deserve by the cutoff date of the 15th September.

Here are the remaining fixtures for the leading teams.

EDINBURGH: Home v Glasgow, Newcastle, Sheffield, Redcar. Away v Rye House, Glasgow, Workington, Sheffield. Currently on 51 points from 20 matches.

SOMERSET: Home v Berwick, Workington. Away v Workington. Currently on 61 points from 25 matches.

BERWICK: Home v Scunthorpe, Workington.. Away v Scunthorpe, Sheffield, Somerset. Currently on 50 points from 23 matches.

IPSWICH: Home v Peterborough. Away v Plymouth. Currently on 54 points from 26 matches.

Other teams in the running for the Playoffs are: Scunthorpe 40 (23 matches), Newcastle 33 (26), Redcar 29 (26), Glasgow 27 points (22), Workington 27 (17). Scunthorpe can be taken as virtually certain qualifiers.

FIXTURES: Fixture discussions are continuing, particularly to ensure that the home match against Glasgow will be staged before the cutoff.

At the moment we can't say when this match will be staged and as things stand, next Friday's match (which will definitely be a double header) is against Redcar and Nerwcastle.

BEN NEVIS 20th SEPTEMBER: The postponed Team Climb of Ben Nevis will now be on Saturday 20th September. Most of the team will be on the trip and they are looking for companions! Anyone interested in joining what is really a long uphill walk, or sponsoring, will be welcome to add their names on Friday.

MEETING SPONSORS: Friday's match will be sponsored by the Black Bull Inn of Mid Calder, Monarchs' hostelry of choice and long time supporters of speedway.

NEW PROMOTION LOOKING FOR SUCCESS: Sheffield's new promotional team have shown their willingness to change their side this year as they look to improve their team's results.

Since the start of the year they have introduced Covatti and Wilson, and also Ty Proctor who has been in and out! They are not playoff contenders but with World Cup riders Stead and Covatti they should be worth watching.

They also have young stars Taylor Poole (getting back to his old form after injury) plus British Under-21 Champion Josh Bates at reserve.

Tigers' other reserve is recently returned Ben Wilson, also a former British Under-21 Champion.

LAST MEETING: Last Friday's planned match against Glasgow at Armadale was rained off in mid-afternoon.

NEXT MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs will race a double header at Armadale on Friday 12th September. At the moment the opposition is Redcar and Newcastle.

Admission prices online for the double header will be Adults £24, Seniors and students £19, Children 12 to 18 £8 and under 12s £2. Prices at the admission gates on the night will be £3 higher for Adults, seniors and students and £2 more for 12 to 18s and £1 more for under 12s.

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