Scotwaste Monarchs aiming at two in single sitting

Sep 10 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

IT will be a historic night at Armadale Stadium on Friday when the Scotwaste Monarchs race two matches in one go for the first time.

The start time is earlier than usual at 7pm and the heats will be run as quickly as possible to get the matches through by 10pm.

The two fixtures are against Rye House in the first leg of the Knockout Cup semi-final, and against Stoke in the Premier League.

Admission to see 30 heats of action will be £22 for Adults, £17 for OAPs and £7 for children.

Monarchs will need a fair lead against Rye to take to the second leg as the Rockets are always strong at home.

A win over the Potters will continue Monarchs’ push up the league table.

Last weekend Monarchs did their league position a lot of good by taking all six points in the two home matches against Workington and Somerset.

The team did especially well against Workington in a match which was expected to be very tough, winning 55-39.

Once again Monarchs’ German sensation Kevin Wolbert was brilliant, scoring 13, and there was a return to form by Aaron Summers too.

On Saturday with more dreadful weather in the area, the riders of both teams deserved every congratulation for seeing the match through to a conclusion with a 42-33 result for Monarchs again giving them three points.

Somerset were impressive opposition and might have snatched a point had the match not been abandoned after 12 heats – but it was the Rebels who called the referee down for a track inspection.

Monarchs still have the chance to make the top four and go into the playoffs, and of course they are in the final of the Premier Trophy and the semi-final of the Knockout Cup.

Monarchs travel to Stoke on Sunday in a Premier League fixture, then have an incredible run of matches: September 16 at Birmingham, September 17 at Sheffield, September 18 at home to Redcar and Berwick in a double header, and finally September 19 at Rye House in the Knockout Cup semi-final second leg.

Teams for Friday:

Scotwaste Monarchs: Ryan Fisher, Max Dilger, Kevin Wölbert, Matthew Wethers (captain), Michal Rajkowski, Aaron Summers, Byron Bekker.

Rye House Rockets: Chris Neath, rider replacement for Robert Mear, Joe Haines, Luke Bowen, Linus Sundstrom, Tommy Allen, Andrew Silver.

Stoke Potters: Jason Bunyan, Tom P Madsen, Klaus Jakobsen, Lee Complin, Robert Ksiezak, Craig Branney, Jesper Kristiansen.