Monarchs hoping to become Cock o’ the North champs

Sep 2 2010 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

WEST LOTHIAN-based the Scotwaste Monarchs will be racing a special challenge fixture against Berwick Bandits at Armadale Stadium tomorrow night.

It’s an important week for the league leaders in their bid to win the title, with away matches at King’s Lynn (Wednesday), Stoke (Saturday) and Glasgow (Sunday), and Friday’s Autumn challenge for the Cock o’ the North Trophy will be a break from high-tension league business for the team.

Berwick have been making noises about being the north’s best team on the strength of outscoring Edinburgh, Workington, Glasgow and Redcar on aggregate plus a big home win over Newcastle who they have still to visit and they are the only team to have outscored Monarchs on aggregate.

That is the reason behind this challenge fixture which will see Monarchs go to Berwick on September 25 in the return.

Monarchs struggled against the Bandits at Armadale earlier this month and it took a last heat 5-1 to clinch a 50-39 victory.

The Bandits have a solid side and the recent signing of Polish international Marcin Rempala has made all the difference to them.

Rempala has scored maximums in his last two home matches and seems to be regaining the form which made him one of his country’s top prospects a few years ago.

Last Friday, the Monarchs easily beat Somerset 58-35 to take a step nearer to that cherished league title.

Old rival Shane Parker was the best visitor and he managed to defeat all the home men at least once. Ryan Fisher and Kevin Wolbert were top Monarchs.

Monarchs need five points from four remaining away matches plus one home match to be sure of winning the Premier League.

Teams for Friday:

Scotwaste Monarchs: Ryan Fisher, Matthew Wethers, Kevin Wolbert, Kalle Katajisto, Andrew Tully, Ashley Morris, William Lawson.

Berwick Bandits: Adrian Rymel, Marcin Rempala, Paul Clews, Michal Makovsky, Lee Complin, Jade Mudgway, guest replacement for Michal Rajkowski.