Workington Comets v Edinburgh Monarchs

With Kalle Katajisto missing, and Workington?s team changes substantially strengthening them, we were up against it at Derwent Park.

What might have happened had both teams had their regular 1-7s in action is open to conjecture ? we may well have won. As it stood, we needed an outstanding performance to take the points, and we didn?t come up with it.

We started well with yet another Ryan Fisher heat 1 win, comfortably leading Comets? very effective guest Rene Bach. It looked as though Richard Lawson possibly didn?t have his fuel turned on, and he stopped to gift Jozsef Tabaka a point.

In heat 2 we saw Max Dilger turn in a good first two laps, holding second between Branney and Cook. However leaving the fourth bend on lap two he lost his back end and fell awkwardly. It seems he may have a dislocated shoulder.

The rerun was a home 5-1, and so was heat 3 with Kevin Wolbert not quite getting to grips with Schramm and Kildemand.

Andrew Tully was quickly into his stride, forcing past both home riders in heat 4 for a good win.

Schramm made the gate in heat 5 with Fisher taking Kildemand very wide on the first turn. The Dane battled to get back with several outside passing attempts on both Fisher and Tabaka, who was right in the mix too. Finally on that tricky fourth turn Kildemand fell off.

Workington racked up another 5-1 in heat 6 though, as Bach and Lawson held off Andrew Tully. The gap was not 10 and we quickly utilised Kevin as a TR.

He made a good start off the inside in heat 7 but went so wide on the first corner that Cook got past him and went on to win easily. We were restricted to a 5-3 advantage.

In heat 8 Lawson and Branney led the way but Tabaka was snapping at their heels until Cal McDade fell just before the end of lap two. That stupid rule which insists on a rerun gave us another chance, and this time Lawson stopped at the gate. Jozsef edged ahead of Branney and took a good victory for a 3-2.

Tully got another good win in heat 9 from Schramm, and Cal McDade amazingly led Kildemand for two laps, a great effort though he was eventually passed.

Richard Lawson led all the way from Wolbert in heat 10, and though we had Bach at the back for a bit, he eventually passed Matthew who wasn?t looking quick.

Kildemand and Cook teamed up to block Ryan Fisher in heat 11, very effectively. Ryan was riding wide on the third/fourth bend which had caused trouble for so many riders, but he couldn?t find a gap to get through.

Wolbert won heat 12 with Schramm falling early, and remounting. Cal McDade should have had a gift point but he threw it away by tumbling and letting the remounted Schramm through.

We were now in a position for our second TR, and used Andrew in heat 13. Both him and Ryan were away well and briefly an 8-1 looked possible, but as they sorted themselves out it was Bach who burst ahead. So all we got was another 5-3.

McDade with battered bike and person didn?t come out for heat 14. He would have had a point because Kildemand stopped in a heat won by Cook from Wethers. The Dane then angrily threw his bike over.

Bach completed a good performance by winning heat 15 from Tully and Wolbert, and we had made 40. We would have liked a few more.

Workington Comets v Edinburgh Monarchs

After all the things that could have gone wrong for Monarchs with volcanic ash disrupting the travel arrangements of their overseas stars, they will go into tonight's fixture with Workington in good heart after what turned out to be a comfortable 17-point home win in the end.

So with little time to draw breath, Monarchs and their fans head South West and follow the Comets back down the road to Derwent Park for their return Premier Trophy fixture (6.30 start). And remember to check your route as the main replacement bridge has not yet opened.

All seven Monarchs came through the Armadale meeting relatively unscathed despite two falls each by reserves Max Dilger and Cal McDade and one particularly spectacular crash that Kevin Wolbert was lucky to walk away from when he rearranged all the boards at the pits end.

The same couldn't be said for Workington who lost their No.1 rider Andre Compton to a heavy fall in his third ride which resulted in him taking no further part in the meeting. Adam Roynon also fell twice in his first two rides and Peter Kildemand came down when going for double points.

But make no mistake, just like last week's trip to Berwick, Workington will look a different side on their home shale. And should Andre Compton be unfit, Ian Thomas will be able to draft in a guest replacement, although I'm sure the Comets will be hoping Andre is fit.

With Kalle Katajisto having chosen the wrong week to make a rare trip home and being unable to get a flight back, the Comets outscored the Monarchs makeshift reserve pairing by 14 points to four. This could be crucial to tonight's result unless the Monarchs top five can transfer their devastating home form to the big Cumbrian track.

Hard charging Peter Kildemand looks a determined rider and might be expected to improve his scoring. Adam Roynon will also surely feel more comfortable on his home circuit and Chris Schramm is another who will be looking for a double figure score.

But Monarchs have four riders showing the sort of form that any team in the league would love to have. They are admirably led by American showman Ryan Fisher who is consistently making Elite League starts away from the tapes, not always a recognised Monarchs trait.

And after taking a little time to shake off the winter cobwebs, Kevin Wolbert, Andrew Tully and captain Matthew Wethers are all flying again. So Monarchs will be dreaming of repeating last night's incredible statistic of having 13 out of 15 heat winners.

With Kalle Katajisto being confined to watching the live updates on the Internet in Finland, Monarchs will certainly have to dig deep if they are to come away with the points from this one. But Monarchs have riders who can go well at Workington and it should be a close, exciting match.