Workington Comets v Edinburgh Monarchs

PREVIEW Saturday 18th September 2010, 12:00pm

by Gordon Fraser

  Edinburgh Monarchs

What could have been a very tense evening at Workington tonight (7.00) should be a much more relaxed occasion for Monarchs fans after their team's devastating display in last night's Knock-Out Cup Semi-Final first leg at Armadale.

Who could have predicted that Edinburgh's super seven would run up their biggest score of the season on their home shale where they have at times been much less convincing. If anyone did predict the 64-26 scoreline, I for one want to copy their Lottery numbers!

So the biggest question for tonight is whether Edinburgh can win at Derwent Park since incredibly there are only two tracks where they haven't won this year ? Workington and Berwick. This will be Monarchs third attempt, so will it be third time lucky?

The Comets team management, riders and fans will be hurting after such an unexpected result so Monarchs can expect a strong response from the Cumbrian side. But Edinburgh have that air of invincibility that so often attaches itself to league winning sides.

Workington have been more unlucky than Edinburgh with injuries this year of course and they did lose three in a row to Sheffield, Berwick and Newcastle. But they are back to full strength and can be a formidable side in front of their own fans.

Gating is much more important at Derwent Park, so it was good to see Monarchs so often getting into the first corner ahead last night. Even Andrew Tully was making some superb starts and doesn't he look such a dominant, top-class rider when he does?

Ryan Fisher has moved himself into the Monarchs top six all time highest average riders, Matthew Wethers is showing his riding has moved up a level, Kevin Wolbert is enjoying unprecedented success, and Kalle Katajisto has exceeded all expectations this year.

Down at reserve, Ashley Morris is benefiting from lots of advice and support as he finds his feet in such a tough, uncompromising sport and William Lawson is at last beginning to get back to his old self with fast, reliable equipment and a large dollop of determination.

The result of this tie is surely not in doubt, but as a one-off match, this one is just as difficult to predict as ever. Any one of these Comets could have a big night and if two or three do so on the night, Monarchs could find life very difficult.

Most fans will be happy with a good performance and all seven Monarchs returning safely to face some huge matches to come before this amazing season ends. Those who make the journey to Workington should be rewarded with a great spectacle served up by two top sides.

Likely line-ups:

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

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

Full Result Details