Speedway: Scorpions and Comets for Monarchs

By DAVID KINVIG
Published on 24/09/2012 12:00

Edinburgh MONARCHS have been drawn against Scunthorpe Scorpions and Workington Comets in their Premier League speedway 
play-off group to decide this year’s championship title. Newcastle Diamonds will face Leicester Lions and Somerset Rebels in the other group.

And today Monarchs co-boss John Campbell revealed that all the other teams were keen to avoid Monarchs.

“As expected, we were the team nobody wanted, simply because we are so dominant round Armadale.”

Campbell is confident the Capital outfit will make progress and reach the Grand Final as they eye a fourth league title in ten years.

“That is certainly our aim, but we need Craig Cook and Jozsef Tabaka to come back fit. That for us is the crucial factor.”

Scunthorpe were the 
only team to beat Monarchs in the league at home this 
season and may well fancy their chances of repeating that success in the play-off competition, but Campbell said: “They didn’t really want us because they think we are the danger 
team in the section.

“We are capable of hammering anyone at Armadale and we could also run anybody close away from home.

“And any team who can pick up something away from home will gain a big advantage 
because the scoring system 
is the same as it is for the league.”

With Scunthorpe also being a Friday night track, arranging dates for the fixtures is proving difficult.

Campbell added: “Despite some lengthy discussions last night, nothing has been concluded yet, but I hope to have dates for all our matches, both home and away, arranged by 
tomorrow.”

Back on the track meanwhile and Monarchs slumped to a heavy 58-35 defeat in their final league match of the season at Rye House Rockets on Saturday. Worryingly skipper Matthew Wethers only scored one point, meaning he has only collected a total of three points from his last two away fixtures.

“Matthew’s last two meetings have been very disappointing, I have to say,” said Campbell, “but Rye House rode very well especially reserve Jason Garrity, and when he is fit and his bike is running well, then he is very good indeed. That’s what we came up against.”

Yesterday’s Premier League Riders Championship at 
Sheffield’s Owlerton track, where Theo Pijper represented Monarchs, was abandoned after just four races because of rain.