ATTENTION TURNS TO THE KO CUP

NEWS Thursday 16th September 2010, 5:13pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs have completed their league programme (as champions!) and would now love to add the Knockout Cup, which they haven't won since 1999.

First obstacle to that hope comes in the shape of the Workington Comets, who are the team who knocked Monarchs out at the same semi-final stage in 2008, and who had two close matches with Monarchs in their league clashes this summer. The first leg is at Armadale tomorrow (Friday) with the return on Saturday evening. After the Armadale match Monarchs will be presented with the Premier League trophy.

TEAMS FOR THE KNOCKOUT CUP SEMI-FINAL 1st LEG AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 17th SEPTEMBER (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Ryan Fisher, Matthew Wethers (capt.), Kevin Wolbert, Kalle Katajisto, Andrew Tully, Ashley Morris, William Lawson.

WORKINGTON THOMAS ARMSTRONG COMETS: Rusty Harrison, Craig Cook, Andre Compton, Peter Kildemand, Chris Schramm (capt.), Richard Lawson, Casper Wortmann.

HISTORY FAVOURS COMETS:

Workington have been Monarchs' cup conquerors twice in recent seasons. The all-conquering 2008 side went down at the semi-final stage, and in 2004 Comets won at an earlier stage.

Remarkably on each of these occasions Monarchs were reigning league champions ? as they are now!

PREMIER LEAGUE: Monarchs completed their league programme with a hard-earned draw at Somerset. They will have at least 13 points to spare at the top of the table ? a superb effort.

The Trophy will be presented tomorrow after the match with Workington.

With Newcastle second and Birmingham third, the fourth playoff place remains to be settled and this is between Sheffield and Rye House and is dependant on weekend matches:

SHEFFIELD (45 pts) away v Glasgow 19/9.

RYE HOUSE (39 pts) home v Glasgow 18/9, away v Newport 19/9.

Sheffield have a slightly better race points difference and seem to be favourites. Monarchs will choose their Playoff opposition on Monday and hope to race the home leg of the Playoff semi-final next Friday.

ADRIAN RYMEL: Berwick have been issuing progress reports on their injured no. 1 and it does seem that this is positive and that Adrian is on the road to a full recovery. That is great news for all fans to celebrate.

MEETING SPONSOR: Sponsoring Friday's match are Monarchs' team sponsors Scotwaste, themselves celebrating their second league title with the Monarchs!

CLOSE TIE EXPECTED: Monarchs have lost only two away Premier League matches this season, but of course one of these was to Workington!

The league matches between the sides finished 51-39 to Monarchs at Armadale, and 51-42 to Workington at Derwent Park where Monarchs used a rare TR. Of course there are no TRs in the cup.

Comets' strong point is certainly their solidity. They will be happy to see Peter Kildemand back, and he proved his fitness by playing his part in the Danish triumph in the World Under-21 Team Final at Rye House. He forms a very hard-riding middle pairing with Andre Compton.

Ex-Monarchs Rusty Harrison is at no. 1, and they have signed ex-King's Lynn rider Casper Wortmann to replace the unlucky American Kenny Ingalls who is out injured.

LAST MEETING: Monarchs beat Stoke 58-32 in spite of the absence of Kevin Wolbert. Top scorer with a paid maximum 14 was Ryan Fisher.

NEXT MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs intend to race their home leg in the Premier Playoff semi-final on Friday 24th September. The opposition should be known on Monday.