Monarchs steeled for Sheffield

EDINBURGH MONARCHS will finally hope to kick-start their Premier League speedway campaign against Sheffield Tigers at Armadale tonight following the postponement of their clash at Redcar Bears last night due to a waterlogged track. A restaging date has been agreed of Thursday, June 14.

Monarchs, who have been in outstanding form at home recently, will certainly fancy their chances of keeping the Tigers at bay but could the Yorkshiremen be poised to spring a surprise?

Two of their squad, Josef Franc and Ricky Wells have recorded perhaps the best performances of their careers over the last fortnight and it will be interesting to see if the pair will make Monarchs suffer as a consequence.

Franc was handed a wild card in the Czech Grand Prix and reeled off three incredible wins against world-class opposition. And Wells scored 18 plus two bonus points for Wolverhampton in their Elite League tussle against Peterborough on Monday.

Although Sheffield were runners-up in the Premier League title chase last season, they wielded the axe over the winter in a bid to improve their poor away form. They have forsaken some top-end strength for a solid-looking septet and, at reserve, they boast two useful riders in Joe Haines and experienced Argentinian Emiliano Sanchez, who will present a challenge to Monarchs’ tail-end duo Charles Wright and Micky Dyer.

Sheffield have also added Chris Schramm to their squad but his record at Armadale is not great.

It’s children’s night this evening in aid of the Armadale gala day and all children will be given a free team poster of the 2012 Monarchs.