Edinburgh
Preview
Posted 12/03/05
Edinburgh Monarchs are the visitors as Glasgow
open their 2005 home campaign for a meeting that holds many unknowns.
Edinburgh have a very different looking squad having
lost their three heat leaders from last season. Daniel Nermark comes
in after a serious injury and there will be a lot of pressure on him
to perform early on although reports from elsewhere suggest that his
fitness is still suspect. Glasgow lost out on Rusty Harrison and Will
Lawson to Edinburgh during the close season and Ross Brady has joined
the Monarchs after making it clear he did not want to consider a return
to his parent club. All are capable of scoring well at Ashfield although
Lawson was a poor visitor last season. Theo Pijper and Cam Woodward
are the returnees from last year and will be keen to impress. The
final member of the Edinburgh squad, Robert Ksieszak is obviously
a complete unknown.
Edinburgh have been unable to hold a practice day
and although a few of their riders took to the track on Friday night
after the Scotland v England U21 meeting this may well work in Glasgow's
favour.
By comparison, the Glasgow team have now had their
first meeting and although it resulted in an away defeat there were
certainly early signs of good team work and the team should be encouraged
by it. Much has been made of Jamie Birkinshaw's dislike of smaller
tracks but as the rider himself pointed out he has scored well at
Ashfield before and he will be keen to impress. Matthew very much
has a point to prove to Edinburgh after being dropped by them unexpectedly.
At the top end of the team Shane and George should dominate with no
Schott or Carr type rider in opposition. Trent should have no problem
in the reserve races and whilst Gary Beaton is perhaps a bit out of
his depth at PL level at the moment he should be looking to take points
of the Edinburgh newcomer or at least challenge as the young lad will
be riding the track for the first time.
It is always very hard in any sport to judge how
a local derby will go as they are a law unto themselves. However surely
Glasgow should be able to despatch this years new Edinburgh side at
home and this year they surely must have an excellent chance of taking
the aggregate win to ensure that to some the Spring Trophy once more
becomes an 'unimportant' trophy rather than one to boast about!
