Peter Carr's dramatic heat 15 win at Newcastle on Monday has put Monarchs through to their first major final since their Cup win in 1997.
Carr had to face Robert Eriksson and David Walsh in heat 15 and both on full maximums up to that point. Carr made the gate and eventually won the heat by a huge margin. This put Monarchs through to the final by a single point.
Carr said "I'm getting too old for these last heat deciders! I'm getting into a sweat on my way to the start line just thinking about it. But I was ready when the tapes went up and away I went".
Carr was not too happy when he heard that Monarchs were due to face Newport with a visit to his least favourite track, Carr groaned "I can't say I'm looking forward to it. I should have finished last in the final heat and then I wouldn't have to go down!".
Newport were quick to propose that the first leg of the Final should be held at Queensway Meadow on this Sunday in place of the Premier League match already scheduled. Monarchs rejected this telling the Newport Management "We've got too much on right now".
Alex Harkess added: "I don't know what Newport were trying to achieve by wanting to stage the final so quickly. We've simply no ready for it. We have a Knockout Cup semi-final coming up against League leaders Sheffield. Besides a couple of our riders are still not restored to full match fitness and it's a full strength team we want to send out against Newport".
Harkess suggested that Newport's haste could be down to the immiment return of Anders Henriksson. Newport are currently using nine point gueats and may be picking up more points than Anders would have done.
"In theory once Anders returns to action Newport will be weaker. Anders was never that strong round his own track anyway. He's been out for a wee while so naturally it will take some time to get in the groove."
"Newport perhaps wanted to catch us on the hop for their own benefit. I dare say we will discuss possible dates when we're down there on Sunday but there is nothing pencilled in yet."
With the two legs expected to take place in September, this could present problems to find a date for the Armadale leg. Two possible dates include September 10th currently open and September 24th which has the Scottish Cup first leg against Glasgow currently scheduled. A complicating factor is that all Premier League matches have to be completed by the end of September and there remains a rearranged fixture against Arena Essex will have to be fitted in.
Having already dumped Newport out of the Premier League Cup, Monarchs are clear favourites to take the inaugral Premier National Trophy. Harkess commented:
"We have beaten Newport convincingly twice at Armadale so far this season. But that doesn't mean we are going to get complacent."
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