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KEY POINTS |
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Edinburgh can't afford any complacency because the Rockets have several riders who will make the league leaders fight for every point. |
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Ryan Fisher will have his hands full trying to contain the electric style of Linus Sundstrom. |
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There could be a whole lot less between the sides than might be expected. |
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Edinburgh Monarchs v Rye House Rockets |
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Friday 30th July 2010
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Premier League |
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News of Monarchs' earth-shattering win at King's Lynn is still reverberating around the Premier League clubs, so the Rye House Rockets won't relish being their next opponents at Armadale on Friday night (7.30) having lost at home twice to the same opponents this year.
All the more so since the Rockets' last result was a drubbing against Workington who have well and truly got their second wind. But with Newcastle still also going strong, Edinburgh can't afford any complacency because the Rockets have several riders who will make the league leaders fight for every point.
Up front, Ryan Fisher will have his hands full trying to contain the electric style of Linus Sundstrom who has become one of the most exciting visiting riders. At No 2, Tobias Busch is matched with the up-and-coming Kyle Hughes and will be hoping riders stop falling in front of him!
There's another intriguing match-up at No.3 where the returning Kevin Wolbert is paired against the Rye House captain and third all-time points scorer, Chris Neath, who is in his seventh season at Hoddesdon and is an excellent performer at Armadale when on form.
Next comes our tenacious captain, Matthew Wethers, at No.4 who just keeps improving year on year. His opposite number is the superfit Swede, Stefan Ekberg whom Edinburgh fans will remember from his days at Glasgow before becoming a permanent fixture in Len Silver's team.
Andrew Tully may be flying high at the moment but his opposing No.5 is Jordan Frampton who has added a point and a half to his average this year while Andy's figures have gone marginally down. On paper, the Poole-born visitor is ahead but races aren't won on paper.
At No.6 there is a new face on either side. Just when Cal McDade had a chance of an even match-up with Lee Strudwick, both find themselves replaced, Cal with the much bounced around, Arlo Bugeja, and Lee with rising National League star, Paul Starke.
Only at No.7 do I see a definite clear difference in the match-ups with the new Scottish Open Champion, Josef Frank guesting for the injured Kalle Katajisto who should have much more in the tank than fellow No.7, former Redcar Bear, Robbie Kessler, who is struggling to make his mark.
On the basis of rider confidence, results so far and home advantage, Monarchs should win comfortably, but as the rider match-ups show, there could be a whole lot less between the sides than might be expected. Rye House are in a handy fourth place and can win on their travels too.
So if conditions are to their liking, who knows? Monarchs will certainly have to keep their generous gifting of points to their opponents in check. This should be a good contest – and there's a couple of new Monarchs to cheer on as well as the top five of the Premier League's leading side.
Probable line-ups:
SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Ryan Fisher, Tobias Busch, Kevin Wolbert, Matthew Wethers, Andrew Tully, Arlo Bugeja, Josef Franc (guest).
RYE HOUSE SILVER SKI ROCKETS: Linus Sundstrom, Kyle Hughes, Chris Neath, Stefan Ekberg, Jordan Frampton, Paul Starke, Robbie Kessler. |
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