Edinburgh Monarchs v Workington Comets

REPORT Friday 29th May 2015, 10:00pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

A patched-up Workington team came to Armadale and were out of contention by the half way stage of this match.

Over the final few heats, either the Monarchs eased off or the Comets improved, but it was too late to make any real difference.

The match had started with an advantage to the visitors thanks to a typically crafty ride by Theo Pijper who ensured that he covered any move by Sam Masters, while Ricky Wells speedily overturned the 15-metre deficit (tapes offence) and caught Erik Riss.

Monarchs took the lead though in heat 2 when Max Clegg and Rob Branford easily recorded a 5-1, evidence of their progress. Monarchs then quickly put distance between themselves and the opposition and were 37-19 ahead by heat 9.

Masters in fact was the only vulnerable home heat leader in the early stages, but when he switched machines he won his last two races very comfortably.

The middle pair of Kevin Wolbert and Justin Sedgmen scored 5-1s in each of their three races together, while Craig Cook dominated his first three heats before coming off on the first bend of heat 13.

Even when Rene Bach took a TR in heat 8, he could not beat Erik Riss who led from tapes to flag. Erik finished up in the air fence in his final ride after trying a passing move on the Comets’ pair.

Ricky Wells was comfortably the best Comet, winning two heats including the last race. Theo Pijper didn’t repeat his opening race success, and while Bach scored steadily, he doesn’t seem to have the sparkle he once had.

Legendary Monarch Matthew Wethers gradually improved and won heat 14, and another Armadale favourite Liam Carr (a regular guest in 2013) also showed substantial improvement during the evening.

Full Result Details