Edinburgh Monarchs v Workington Comets

PREVIEW Friday 18th July 2014, 12:00pm

by Gordon Fraser

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Having been robbed of the chance to break the modern record of unbeaten matches due to the Redcar rain-off a fortnight ago, the full strength Monarchs will try again tonight against the fast improving but currently depleted Workington Comets.

Edinburgh beat the Comets 55-38 at Armadale three months ago in the League Cup but the pre-season favourites from Cumbria have only four of the same riders this time round but at least their strong heat leader trio are among them.

The opposing No.1's both got their starts in speedway with one club but have blossomed with another. In Craig Cook's case, Workington's loss is Edinburgh's gain, and Glasgow will be envious of Josh Grajczonek's recent meteoric rise.

The first of Monarchs' three Australians, Justin Sedgmen has moved seamlessly from No.7 to No.2 where this week the Comets operate rider replacement for former Monarch Kyle Howarth who is out with ankle ligament damage.

The second Aussie, Max Fricke is really starting to fulfil the promise everyone knew he had but he will have his work cut out against Comets captain and flying Dane at No.3, Rene Bach who burst on the scene in 2009 with Newcastle.

The apparently unflappable Steve Worrall is another whose former clubs must be kicking themselves and at No.4 he faces a second one-time Glasgow Tiger from Australia who is still very much on the way up, Mason Campton.

Sam Masters should be full of confidence after winning not one but two Pairs titles since his last Armadale appearance. At No.5 this week he faces the talented New Zealand born American rider Ricky Wells who now boasts a 7.90 average.

Lining up at No.6 is Monarchs' own American racer, Aaron Fox who certainly doesn't lack support on the terraces. His opposite number is the popular young Berwick Bandit, Liam Carr who is standing in for the injured Ashley Morris.

Last but not least comes Monarchs' inspirational captain Derek Sneddon at No.7 where he is opposed by Comets' newest signing, Simon Lambert from Boston in Lincolnshire who has appeared for several clubs since his 2004 debut.

The unbeaten Monarchs have every reason to be confident but they must be wary of Workington, a side who have lost just once at home and once away in the league and have heaps of fixtures remaining to help propel them up the table.

Edinburgh will start as firm favourites due partly to their home track advantage but this will be no walk in the park. If they want to break that record, the Comets will make them really work for every point. It should be a cracker. Tapes up at 7.30 sharp.

Likely line-ups:

EDINBURGH SCOTWASTE MONARCHS: Craig Cook, Justin Sedgmen, Max Fricke, Steve Worrall, Sam Masters, Aaron Fox, Derek Sneddon (capt.).

WORKINGTON COMETS: Josh Grajczonek, rider replacement for Kyle Howarth, Rene Bach (capt.), Mason Campton, Ricky Wells, Liam Carr (guest), Simon Lambert.

Full Result Details