Christian Henry was injured riding for Lightning at St.Austell on Tuesday and misses Friday's match against Hull at Armadale. This clears the way for Derek Sneddon to make his full debut. Derek has featured at number eight for Monarchs on a few ocassins and did manage to get four rides against the Czech touring side earlier in the year. Ironically Derek has appeared in one Premier League match, for Hull at Armadale in 1998.
Monarchs also shuffle the riding order once more. Although Robert Eriksson stays at number one, the rest of the team change positions. Kevin Little moves from number two to number four to partner Ross Brady who moves from five to three, changing places with Peter Carr.
David McAllan is listed at number six but he hasn't ridden since he was injured at Berwick last Saturday and missed two of Lightning's matches in the meantime. It may well be Jon Swales joining Sneddon at reserve.
The Monarchs' side will be reshuffled once more on Saturday with Will Beveridge coming in for Blair Scott, probably at number two. Then next Friday against Reading the team will change again with Ross Brady and Kevin Little changing places and Blair Scott coming back in at reserve, most likely at number seven with Christian Henry moving to number six.
By then, Kevin Little will have ridden at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Ross Brady will have appeared at 3, 4, and 5 while Blair Scott will have been at 2, 4, and 7. Robert Eriksson has appeared at 1 and 5 with Peter Carr going out at 3 and 5. The 'musical chairs' routine is unlikely to stop there. Monarchs have four riders, Kevin Little, Ross Brady, Will Beveridge, and Blair Scott within one point of each other in terms of average. As things stand Kevin Little will be at heat leader in June and Blair Scott at reserve. By July, any one of the four could be at heat leader and any one could be at reserve.
Hull will have Ray Morton guesting for the injured Garry Stead. Morton has been in great form and currently tops the Premier National Trophy averages. They may also have new signing Jamie Smith replacing Wesley Waite at reserve. Smith was recently forced out of the Newcastle team, along with Will Beveridge to accommodate the return of André Compton.
Hull are sure to provide a tough test, especially given Monarchs' makeshift reserve pairing. They could find the going tough against in-form Mike Smith.
The match against Hull will complete Monarchs Premier National Trophy campaign.
Current results and tables are as follows:
Premier National Trophy Results
Premier National Trophy League Tables
With Workington and Hull now assured of qualification for the semi-finals of the Premier National Trophy, the match is a 'dead' fixture. It will be important in terms of confidence building for the opening Premier League match at Arena Essex. Peter Carr argued that if Monarchs fail to win at Purfeet on Saturday it will be "a very long season" for the club. Carr went on:
"It looks as though we are out of the Premier Trophy, so we will have to go for the league. And everyone in the team needs to get going. It's a very winnable fixture in my opinion because Arena Essex are not the strongest of teams. We also have a good record down there. If we don't get off to a good start, we need to have a serious look at things."
Monarchs also face Arena Essex in the first round of the Premier League Cup, a repeat of last years' final.