The
Premier League Derby
Posted 13/08/05
This Sunday sees the visit of our nearest
rivals Edinburgh on league business in what should be an entertaining
and close meeting.
Both teams have changed since the teams drew at Ashfield
in April, Glasgow significantly.
Edinburgh have Theo Pijper recently returned from injury
and in superb form. However his last visit to Ashfield as a guest
for Newport was not particularly successful. Ross Brady is expected
to ride despite pulling out of Edinburgh's meeting on Friday. Should
he not make it, the rider replacement for him would enable any Edinburgh
rider to take his ride.
Harrison and Nermark are a formidable middle order pairing.
Harrison has possibly been Edinburgh's most consistent rider recently
and will be a tough opponent. Nermark on the other hand has been a
little erratic, both in scoring and the way he has been riding tracks,
but a rider of his quality should not be underestimated. At reserve,
there is the 'I'll show you' threat with Matthew Wethers no doubt
hoping to come back and haunt us. He was struggling at second string
for the Tigers but at reserve could be a threat. Fellow reserve Robert
Ksiezak has struggled since returning from the injury that saw him
miss almost three months of the season. It is difficult to estimate
how Will Lawson will fare at no 2 but he is still trying to find his
feet a little in the main body of the team.
Adam Roynon showed on Friday night that he appears to have
recovered very quickly from last weeks accident and if he and James
Cockle can get near the form they showed last week it will be a significant
factor in the Tigers team. Stefan is still suffering from his ribs
and knee injury from all reports in Sweden and is probably faced with
the toughest task of all Glasgow riders. Claus confidence, as with
the rest of the team, must surely be lifted after last week and Glasgow
need him to show a repeat of last weeks form. Little needs to be said
about George and Shane although hopefully the extra meetings George
is having at the moment with Ipswich and its effect on man and machines
will not be detrimental. Following on from his first
ever paid maximum last week, Trent could very well be a key figure
tomorrow.
Form books however mean nothing when it comes to local derby
meetings and this meeting looks as if it has all the makings of a
controversial but entertaining encounter.
