Monarchs ruled by Kings in home defeat

May 20 2010 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

WEST LOTHIAN-based the Scotwaste Monarchs face the high-flying Newcastle Diamonds in the Premier League at Armadale Stadium tomorrow night.

This follows a week in which Monarchs landed a totally unexpected away win at Birmingham, then lost at home to King’s Lynn.

Until last week Birmingham had looked the strongest team in the country, steamrollering everyone home and away.

But they suffered bad luck when Monarchs were there last Wednesday, losing their American rider Chris Kerr with a broken leg, but even so Monarchs did exceptionally well to defeat them by 48-41.

It was a solid showing with Ryan Fisher and Andrew Tully in particularly fine form, and really made the Premier League sit up and take notice of the magnificent Monarchs.

Unfortunately two days later the boot was on the other foot when league champions King’s Lynn came to Armadale and snaffled the points by 49-41.

It was a see-saw match with Monarchs trailing disastrously 6-17 after four races by which time Ryan Fisher, Kevin Wolbert and Tully were all pointless.

Jozsef Tabaka then won two heats as we scored 23 points in five races to lead 29-25, before losing out in a last heat decider.

Young Hungarian Jozsef Tabaka had one of his best meetings at home with two victories.

King’s Lynn certainly benefited from having William Lawson guesting, and on his low average which applies all season he will no doubt be back.

He only scored four points from his opening three rides but then clicked into gear with three vital wins, twice beating Ryan Fisher.

Kevin Doolan also came on strongly towards the end of the contest after conceding two 5-1s, while Kozza Smith went the other way after starting with two wins.

Kalle Katajisto was missed by the Monarchs though the reserves on both sides finished up totalling 7-7.

Many of these points were gifts and the important third places in heats 12 and 14 went comfortably to the visitors.

Switching the focus back onto this weekend now and Newcastle have already won at Armadale in the Premier Trophy but on this occasion they have to do without their star Danes Kenni Larsen and Rene Bach, who have to ride in a rearranged Danish Championship semi-final.

They have guest Josh Grajczonek standing in, plus top Aussie Mark Lemon, a strong rider replacement facility and ex-Monarchs’ captain Derek Sneddon, so they will still be no pushover.

Teams for Friday:

Scotwaste Monarchs: Ryan Fisher, Jozsef Tabaka, Kevin Wolbert, Matthew Wethers, Andrew Tully, Max Dilger, Kalle Katajisto.

Newcastle Diamonds: Rider replacement for Kenni Larsen, Derek Sneddon, Jason King, Josh Grajczonek, Mark Lemon, Dakota North, Adam McKinna.

On Sunday, the Monarchs go to Newcastle for the restaging of their rained off Premier Trophy tie.

Monarchs still have an outside chance of qualifying but would need to win this match. That seems unlikely – but so did a win at Birmingham.