Bonus Gained At Workington

Stellar Monarchs playoff position was strengthened but not secured as they went down 47-43 at Workington on Saturday securing the bonus point in the process.

The feeling in the camp being this was one that got away though as the Monarchs held a six point lead as late as after heat eight.

The Comets would power to a trio of 5-1's to follow that giving them the platform to hold on as Monarchs captain Paco Castagna exhaled after 'What can I say, it is a shame we lost, heats nine, ten and eleven kill us completely.

'I feel like we should have won and got all three points but it is not all negative.

'Some of us had a good night, some of us a bad one but again we do it as a team. I felt we were stronger overall we just let the meeting get away from us in those heats.

'We got the bonus though so it's not all bad and that helps us for the playoffs'

Castagna was in fine form as he raced to a paid 12 score and the Monarchs still had a chance at a draw as the match got to heat 15.

The Monarchs captain and top scorer on the night Jonatan Grahn had secured a heat 14 5-1 but despite a fantastic first lap to hit the front from Grahn, Castagna could not find a way through and the Comets held on.

There were moments for some of the rest of the Monarchs also, Kye Thomson starting well with two heat wins and Grahn showing his liking for the Northside circuit once again on his way to 13.

Early star of the show was Jordy Loftus taking two paid wins to start his night with sharp gating, smart first corners and determined rides thereafter.

The home side were led by their top three Troy Batchelor, Tate Zischke and Antti Vuolas who raced to paid 34 between them, this a sharp contrast to the paid 8 return of the top three in the Monarchs averages.

So, close but no cigar and an aggregate bonus point that in the grand scheme of things should see the Monarchs playoff berth secure albeit this not quite mathematically guaranteed yet.

Workington Bound With Points To Be Gained

Stellar Monarchs head to Workington on Saturday in their penultimate away match of the Championship regular season campaign with a playoff confirming result possible.

While there are a multitude of permutations the rest of the way a draw or better for the Armadale men would mean that the Monarchs could not be overhauled in the top four.

No chickens are being counted though as the Comets are a very different proposition on their home shale as to how they performed art Armadale on Friday, that 20-point home win meaning the bonus point is seen as the absolute minimum target for the Blue and Gold.

Confidence can be taken for the Monarchs from a 45-45 result in the KO Cup back in May albeit that one a little bit of a dead rubber given lead the Monarchs had taken into that second leg but it does mean five of our seven have recent Northside experience.

In fact Jonatan Grahn impressed so much on that occasion that he has been a regular guest both for and against the Comets since and he may well be key at reserve.

Elsewhere Justin Sedgmen, Kye Thomson, Paco Castagna and Victor Palovaara shared nine wins or paid wins between them on the Monarchs cup visit and Michael Palm Toft also recorded seven points on his last visit.

For the hosts it has been a season of ups and downs and everyone is just glad to see them back on track after the mid season break caused by admin issues.

The Comets despite being bottom of the pile currently still can make the playoffs with a late charge given the matches in hand they have so they will not want to lose out at home.

The home record shows only one blip in the league that a 39-51 reverse to a Redcar side that boasted Monarchs Grahn and Castagna as guests who recorded paid 16 between them.

The home men at full strength in this one as Jye Etheridge despite being battered and bruised after a couple of offs the last few days has said he is good to go.

So, another important match for both as the business end of the season comes into view, tapes up at 6pm with a live stream available from https://www.workingtoncomets.tv