Hammers look to return to winning ways.

It's a question of 'win or bust' for the Kent Sweepers Hammers this coming Saturday, as they entertain the Edinburgh Monarchs at Purfleet.

Already out of the KO Cup. the Hammers suffered a body blow to their hopes of reaching the end of season play offs for the Young Shield when they slipped to a 43-47 home defeat against Workington last Friday.

A win against the Scots this coming Saturday is therefore essential, if the Premier League side is to climb into the top eight in the league table and qualify for that end of season competition.

As of Monday, the Hammers occupy twelfth place in the league table, but are just three points behind Edinburgh, who are eighth and, therefore, currently in the final qualifying slot for the Young Shield. Not that it will be easy against the Monarchs backed, no doubt, by their usual large travelling band of supporters.

The Scots have already won once on their travels, against the Trelawny Tigers in Cornwall, and will be boosted by the news that it looks very likely that influential skipper Peter Carr will be fit to return to the side for Saturday's match.

Carr, although nearing the veteran stage, is the foundation on which the Edinburgh management have built their team in the past few years. A consistently high scorer both at home and away, it's hard to believe at times that he made his debut in the sport at Ellesmere Port way back in 1979. He's been having intensive treatment on his knee injury and the Monarchs hope he'll be declared fit to ride on Saturday. If he isn't it'll be a huge blow for them.

Lanky Swede Robert Eriksson is the second part of their twin spearhead, having returned to Scotland after spending the '99 season at Newcastle. He first signed for Edinburgh in 1995.

Their third heat leader is experienced Dane Jan Andersen, whom the Monarchs persuaded to return to them in the close season. The 31-year old, elder brother of Oxford rider and grand prix star Brian, first rode for Edinburgh back in 1992, and has also ridden for Coventry, Peterborough and Ipswich, where he was last year.

Young Blair Scott, recently turned 21, burst onto the scene as a 16-year old but, somehow, has failed to make the real progress many expected of him. As we went to press there was a doubt over his fitness following a wrist injury sustained last weekend.

The other second string slot will be filled by 20-year old Australian Christian Henry, a likeable young man indeed but one with a steely ambition to succeed. Hasn't quite made the progress expected of him this term but is set to go onto greater things in the years ahead.

The injury to Swedish International Daniel Jan 'Dalle' Andersson that definitely rules him of Saturday's encounter could prove costly for Edinburgh in terms of their title aspirations. Edinburgh persuaded him to return to Britain earlier in the season and, but for his crash, he would have been a real ace at reserve.

It leaves the Scots having to track two young Aussies at reserve, the first being Ben Shields, cousin of Isle of Wight star Adam and son of former Cradley Heath Heathen Dave. It's Ben's first season over in Britain and he's found life a bit tough up to now but, if reports are to be believed, he's likely to turn out every bit as good as his dad and cousin in the years to come.

Joining him is fellow teenager Rory Schlein who, in recent weeks, seems to have turned out for just about everyone! Rides equal experience as far as he's concerned at this stage and he could well be one to watch in 2002 and beyond.