Monarch's battle to take the Premier League title is now over. John Campbell admitted on BBC Ceefax that Monarchs title chances are slim. "It looks very much as if the title will go to Sheffield."

While Sheffield have held a lead for some time, the comparable results of the two teams has been almost identical. Edinburgh and Sheffield both won at Stoke and Workington while Sheffield drew at Arena Essex and Swindon while Edinburgh won at Arena but lost at Swindon. The only thing to separate the teams until last Friday was that Sheffield edged the bonus point whe the two teams met at the start of the Premier League campaign.

This symmetry was broken when Edinburgh lost at home to Newcastle. Edinburgh, currently on 31 points have home matches against Glasgow and Arena Essex and visits due to Glasgow, Newcastle, and Reading. Even if Edinburgh win all remaining matches, they can only reach 45 points. Sheffield, now on 43 points only need to win their last home match against Arena Essex to move to 46 points. They can achieve this target on Saturday should they win at Berwick.

To be assured of the title, Sheffield actually need 48 points as Newport have a potential to hit 47 points. This is not likely to happen since the Wasps have a tough run-in with five away matches to play including visits to Arena Essex, Isle of Wight, and Newcastle.

Monarchs will no doubt rue the injuries they suffered at key stages of the season. This kept Peter Carr out at the start of the season and took away Kevin Little and James Grieves for a spell in mid season. Most cruicial could prove the long-term absence of David McAllan just as he was beginning to put some scores together and the current serious injury to Stewart McDonald that could end his season prematurely. With Ross Brady missing a match due to a virus, the only ever-present in the Monarchs team is Blair Scott and he has suffered a few spills recently. Other teams tipped for the Premier League have also suffered injuries to key riders. Newport have been without Anders Henriksson and Scott Pegler for some time. The Isle of Wight have missed Philippe Bergé, Nick Simmons, and Danny Bird. Newcastle had injuries to Robert Eriksson and Derrol Keats. By contrast, Sheffield's only injury victim has been reserve Peter Boast. This might well have proved to have made the difference.

Monarchs still have plenty of silverware to go for. Apart from Monarchs' tasks in the Semi-Final of the Premier League Cup against Sheffield and in the Final of the Premier National Trophy against Newport, they have the Premier League Fours Finals to come. In the League, Edinburgh still have a very good chance of finishing as runners up, this will be the highest place that they have ever achieved.

With Monarchs assured of finishing in the top eight, this will give them another chance of a major trophy with the Young Shield playoffs. Finishing second will probably give an easier run. Hopefully, they will avoid Newport and Newcastle having drawn them in both the Premier League Cup and the Premier National Trophy knockout stages. Monarchs' likely Young Shield Quarter-Final opponents could include Arena Essex, Exeter, and Swindon.

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