AND NOW FOR THE CUP

NEWS Wednesday 1st October 2014, 8:57pm

by Toby Lerone

  Edinburgh Monarchs

It’s a week off for the pressures of the Play-offs as the Scotwaste Monarchs attempt to reach another cup final with this week’s visitors to Armadale being the Newcastle Diamonds in the semi-final of the Knock Out Cup. This is the first leg of the semi-final with the second leg due at Newcastle on Sunday 12th October. The winner will go on to meet Ipswich in the Final.

THE TEAMS FOR THE KNOCK OUT CUP SEMI FINAL AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 3RD OCTOBER (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 (captain)

NEWCASTLE DIAMONDS: Danny King, Lewis Rose(rider replacement), Stuart Robson, Theo Pijper (guest for Lewis Kerr), Ludvig Lindgren, Simon Nielsen, Guest to be named (For Chris Mills).

DIAMONDS AIM TO SPARKLE: By their own very high standards, Newcastle Diamonds have had a poor season and their only chance of picking up silverware this season now rests with the Knock Out Cup. The Diamonds have been the best visitors to Armadale this season coming close to a win just three weeks ago. That night their skipper crashed out of the meeting in his first race so they will present a real threat to the Monarchs this time round. Top man last time was Lewis Kerr but he broke his scaphoid on Monday night. Diamonds bring in Glasgow’s captain Theo Pijper as a guest and he should be an adequate replacement.

Scotwaste Monarchs reserves were in the injury wars at the weekend but both Aaron Fox and Derek Sneddon will be fit to race on Friday.

Monarchs team manager Alex Harkess said, “The Diamonds ran us very close on their last visit but we’ve got to ensure this time that we build a big lead to take down to Newcastle on Sunday week.”

LAST MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs easily beat Workington Comets in the Play-off match and followed it up with victory at Workington the next day to ensure qualification to the Play-off Final for the Premier League Championship. That will be raced later in October against opposition still to be established.

NEXT WEEK: Peterborough Panthers are the visitors in the deciding leg of the League Cup Final on Friday 10th October. The first leg takes place at Peterborough on Sunday 5th October.