DEFEAT AT WORKINGTON

NEWS Saturday 12th September 2015, 9:30pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Border Roofing Monarchs went down 49-41 in our final away league match, finishing pointless as the Comets successfully completed their unbeaten home league record.

Given that praiseworthy performance ( everyone else has lost at least two on their own track ) it is a measure of how disappointing Workington have been on their travels that they have not made the Playoffs.

Monarchs were of course without Erik Riss and Max Clegg, but even so should have been able to snatch a point. In the end after missing a few chances to take more points, it was left to the old firm of Cook and Masters to take a 5-1 from heat 15 if we were to gain anything.

They came close and held a maximum advantage at one stage, but Sam could not stop Rene Bach coming through to second. Craig had done extremely well to make the start from the inside which wasn't a productive gate.

Comets' star men were Ricky Wells, Kenneth Hansen and Rene Bach who all showed the hunger and ability to come from the back, and they also had a very successful reserve guest in Hynek Stichauer who scored 12+3 from seven heats and featured in important 5-1s in heats 8 and 14.

You could say these were the key heats in the match, both featuring Justin Sedgmen in the absence of Riss. He actually led heat 8 but was passed by Hansen, then stopped in a shower of sparks just before he finish, gifting a lucky paid win to Stichauer.

But while Sedgmen was unlucky there, overall his pairing with Wolbert was a big disappointment. They may have totalled 11 between them but the only opposition rider either of them beat was Matt Williamson.

The rest of the side all earned pass marks at least. Cook was adjudged to have touched the tapes in heat 1 but still got a point by passing Stichauer for a shared heat. Thereafter he took four wins by large margins.

Masters is working his way back to fitness and confidence, winning two heats including an impressive heat 9 success over Bach and Hansen. He fought hard for hs third places in heats 13 and 15 which might have gained us a point with better performances elsewhere.

Rob Branford really battled throughout and did exceptionally well to score 5 in the first two heats. More than once he just missed out on extra points after great battles.

And thanks to Ryan Blacklock who got a good point in heat 2 and looks a good prospect.

Workington certainly deserved their success while we will go on to Newcastle tomorrow, the bigger match for us, with our more familiar lineup.

Full Result Details