EDINBURGH Scotwaste Monarchs lifted five trophies in their championship-winning season of 2008.
The Knockout Cup was the only major piece of silverware to elude them. They exited the competition at the hands of Workington Comets and the Capital speedway team are determined not to fall by the wayside this year when they square up to those conque
rors in tonight's quarter-final first-leg tie at Armadale.
The winners will meet Rye House Rockets in the last four.
Monarchs met Workington last season just two days after clinching the league title and there was a feeling that, had the match taken place a week later, the result would have been different.
But Monarchs star Andrew Tully refuted suggestions that the euphoria after winning the championship ultimately proved a distraction. He said: "I don't think so. We were all focused but things just didn't go our way and Workington proved to be the better side over the two legs."
Monarchs feel they could have the upper hand this time, especially after they thumped their Cumbrian rivals 60-34 in the Premier Trophy earlier in the season at Armadale.
A repeat of that scoreline would surely secure their passage to the semi-finals.
However, Monarchs are a man short after failing to find a replacement for young Swede Thomas Jonasson, who lost his father suddenly recently and decided to quit the club last week.
Tully says utilising the rider replacement facility can put a strain on the rest of the side, who will have to take extra rides.
"The rider replacement situation is never ideal to use all the time. If something goes wrong with one of the other riders it can mess you up a bit," he said.
"It's a shame Thomas isn't in the team because we all got on well with him. He is a good lad and, given everything that has gone on in his life recently, it's understandable why he can't continue to race over here just now but we have to deal with it and move on." Tully isn't without his own problems and is disgruntled with his scoring rate.
He added: "Although I've had double figures in our last two home matches, I still feel I should be getting more. I just get frustrated with my gating and, now and then, I get stuck at the back in a race. With the weather getting warmer, it is hard to keep grip on the track so it become harder to pass."
Monarchs only lost their Premier Trophy second leg tie at Derwent Park by six points but the Comets have upped a gear since then.
They boast a strong heat leader trio in Kevin Doolan, Adrian Rymel and Andre Compton and currently sit at the top of the Premier League.
But it's young Richard Lawson – son of Glasgow Tigers legend Steve – who has been the real eye catcher and is proving a gem of a discovery.
He scored eight points on his Comets debut and has several double-figure returns to his credit already.
Meanwhile, Monarchs promoter John Campbell has vowed a replacement for Jonasson will be in place before the rider replacement facility expires on July 10.
He said: "We will take whoever we think is up to the job. It's just trying to convince somebody to come across and ride for us. And, while some riders have schedules mapped out, anyone interested in joining us will change them, that's how it works in world speedway now."
PRICES for tonight's match are: Adults £14, OAPs £10.50, Under-16s £5, Under-12s free (with one paying adult).
