Rebels throw down gauntlet to Monarchs with first-leg victory

SPEEDWAY

Monarchs face a huge task tonight to take the Premier League Championship from the holders Somerset Rebels, writes Nigel Duncan.

The Armadale team, runners up to Somerset 12 months ago, trail by 12 points after last night’s first leg in which only two Monarchs hit double figures: No.1 Craig Cook and the Australian Sam Masters. Max Fricke managed only a disappointing seven points and the captain Derek Sneddon, injured a week ago, struggled with his painful hip and collected only one point.

Monarchs were 17 points adrift after Heat 10 and the 12-point gap would have been greater had Cook and Masters not teamed up to win Heat 13. It was backed up by Cook who won the final race, with Masters in third place for a 4-2. Mike Hunter, Monarchs spokesman, said: “Those two races could be crucial at Armadale. It will be a difficult task to overhaul Somerset who are a decent side but we’re looking for a massive crowd to back us.” nGlasgow Tigers bring the curtain down on their season with an injury-hit side lined up for a home double-header tomorrow, writes Nigel Duncan. The Ashfield side face Workington Comets in the Premier League and then Berwick Bandits in the League Cup. Rusty Harrison and Tero Aarnio miss both matches through injury while Tigers also have to fill in for long-term absentee Dimitri Berge. Colin Hamilton, the club’s co-promoter, said: “We’ll just have to soldier on.” Berwick Bandits visit Workington Comets in a Premier League play-off contest tonight which is entirely academic.

CRICKET

Pace bowler Ali Evans will undergo treatment on a knee injury after having to miss the last two games of Scotland’s tour to Australia and New Zealand, writes William Dick.

The squad returned home yesterday after the seven-game pre-World Cup trip which saw them claim the scalps of Tasmania and Wellington. While the batsmen will head to Dubai for specialist coaching next month, the former Derbyshire bowler Evans is set for a period of recuperation after suffering a recurrence of an old problem.

Craig Wright, the bowling coach, said: “Ali has a little bit of an ongoing niggle with a knee which kept him out of a couple of games. We now have a great opportunity to get him into the gym and get him fit and strong for the intensive programme we have in the next few months.” Evans took six wickets in the four matches in which he took part including a crucial three for 35 in the victory over Tasmania.

GOLF

After winning $433,720 for a third place finish on the PGA Tour last week, Russell Knox will earn nothing from this week’s tournament, the McGladrey Classic at the Seaside Copurse, Sea Island, Georgia, writes Colin Farquharson.

The 29-year-old from Inverness, a resident of Jacksonville Beach since his US college days, missed the cut by several strokes with scores of 76 and 70 for a two-round total of six-over-par 146. Knox had a double-bogey 7 at the long seventh in his first round followed by bogeys at the 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th and 17th in an inward five-over-par 39.

His fellow Scot Martin Laird had rounds of 68 and 71 for one-under 139, eight shots behind the clubhouse leader, Russell Henley with scores of 68 and 63 for nine-under 131.

HOCKEY

Kelburne Bromac will be pleased to have returned to the top of the men’s national league first division, even though only on goal difference, after a tough weekend in Europe, writes Craig Madden.