Monarchs have Stars in their eyes

Oct 16 2008 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

THE Scotwaste Monarchs have had another highly successful week and now face King’s Lynn Stars at Armadale Stadium on Friday at 7.30pm in the Premier Play-off Final.

They successfully defended their advantage at Somerset last Wednesday to knock the Premier League runners-up out of the play-offs.

And after facing King’s Lynn away on Wednesday the Monarchs will take them on again tomorrow (Friday) to decide who goes on to face either Wolverhampton or Peterborough in another two-leg match. The prize for this would be a place in the Elite League.

That is still a long way off as beating a current Elite team over two legs is a tall order.

First King’s Lynn have to be dealt with, and that will be very tough. They have a powerful top two in Tomas Topinka and Kevin Doolan, and Monarchs will have their work cut out for themselves.

Having done well to eliminate Somerset from the play-offs, Monarchs then suffered a rain-off last Friday when the scheduled second leg of the Scottish Cup could not take place. This will now be held on October 31.

Undaunted, Monarchs went through to Glasgow on Sunday and fought back from a 12-point deficit to pull off an amazing 47-45 win in the final race.

Ryan Fisher and Matthew Wethers were the heroes in that final heat, racing clear of Shane Parker to set the big Monarchs’ travelling support roaring.

This win means that Monarchs have finished five points clear at the top of the 2008 Premier League table.

Their prospects in the play-offs may depend on William Lawson showing better form. He has been out of sorts recently with too much pressure being put on Fisher, Wethers, Sneddon and Tully.

The presentation of the 2008 Premier League Trophy will be on Friday, October 24 at Armadale, when Monarchs will be racing against either Wolves or Peterborough for an Elite League place, or a special challenge match which will be organised should Monarchs not beat King’s Lynn.

Teams for Friday:

Scotwaste Monarchs: William Lawson, rider replacement for Thomas H Jonasson, Ryan Fisher, Andrew Tully, Matthew Wethers, Derek Sneddon (captain), Aaron Summers.

King’s Lynn Stars: Tomas Topinka, Joel Parsons, Kevin Doolan, Simon Lambert, rider replacement for Rusty Harrison, Kozza Smith, John Oliver.