More fixture changes have occured as Edinburgh try to pack in outstanding Premier league games as soon as possible.
The away fixture at Newcastle was originally scheduled for September 5th was brought forward to next Sunday. This was to allow Monarchs to complete their home Premier League programme on Sunday 5th with the restaging of the rained-off fixture against Arena Essex. Newcastle had alrady pencilled in a home fixture against Berwick and the bandits' promotion have declined to switch this match. That leaves the Edinburgh visit to Brough Park still to arrange. Newcastle do have a open date on September 19th but most of the Monarchs squad will be in the Scotland team for the Ashfield Test then. There is another open date on September 26th but Monarchs are due to meeting Glasgow in the Scottish Cup that day. Several Sundays already taken up by shared events such as the restage Premier League Fours on August 29th and the Premier League Riders Championship on September 12th. Newcastle still have to host visits by Berwick, Isle of Wight and Newport. It appears that some shuffling of fixtures will be required.
All this leaves Edinburgh free to visit Glasgow in the Premier League on this coming Sunday, August 22nd. The date is probably not ideal for either side to stage the big derby match with the Tigers being without Emiliano Sanchez and Edinburgh missing Stewart McDonald. Unless either side makes a late signing, both will operate rider replacement. The Scottish Cup may provide a truer test with both teams being more likely to be at full strength by then.
There is still no news on dates for the Premier National Trophy Final against Newport. One option is to run the Armadale leg on Edinburgh's open date on Friday, September 10th and the return at Newport the following day on Saturday September 11th. This is the day before the Premier League Riders Championship at Sheffield. Monarchs would no doubt prefer to stage the Armadale leg second so as to win the Trophy in front the home support. However, the number of free Sundays to stage the Newport leg are very limited especially with the Newcastle fixture still to arrange.
Should Edinburgh get past Sheffield and into the Premier League Cup Final, there will be further problems accommodating home and away fixtures against Arena Essex or Exeter.
It's going to be a busy September with an rearranged away match at Reading still to be scheduled.
[This news item was added on August 17th 1999]