Monarchs and Comets contest Final spot

NEWS Wednesday 26th September 2018, 5:00pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Staggs Bar Monarchs take on the Workington Comets over two days, Friday at Armadale and Saturday at Derwent Park, the prize for the aggregate winners being a place in the 2018 Championship Knockout Cup Final.

Monarchs have dismissed Glasgow and Berwick along the way, Workington have only had a single tie against Newcastle which has recently been completed. Comets are still competing in the semi-finals of the Championship Playoffs and the Championship Shield, but for Monarchs the KO Cup is the only remaining national prize they can land.

Both teams have a key man missing. Dan Bewley is out for the season for Comets and the guest replacement for him on Friday will be Berwick's Kevin Doolan. Monarchs will still be without Joel Andersson who broke two bones in his foot on 7th September, and standing in for him will be Glasgow's James Sarjeant.

The 'form guide' might be said to be confusing. Workington beat Monarchs home and away in the Championship Shield, but in the recent league fixtures Monarchs won by 40 at home and only went down by 6 in Cumbria.

Promoter Alex Harkess said "Obviously we want to take a good lead down to Workington. If we don't do so well, and go with a small lead, then we may struggle – but to be fair we went to Glasgow with a small lead and won. Who knows, it would be nice to go down with a good lead and I feel that the team will be up for it, they know it's the last chance."

THIS WEEK'S MEETING:

Friday 28th September: Staggs Bar Monarchs v Workington (Knockout Cup semi-final), 7:30pm

STAGGS BAR MONARCHS: Ricky Wells, Victor Palovaara, Josh Pickering, Richie Worrall, Erik Riss (captain), William Lawson, James Sarjeant (Guest).

WORKINGTON THOMAS ARMSTRONG COMETS: Nicolai Klindt, Rasmus Jensen, Kevin Doolan (Guest), Rene Bach, Ty Proctor, Kyle Bickley, Mason Campton.

Saturday 29th September: Workington v Staggs Bar Monarchs (Knockout Cup semi-final), 7pm. Jordan Stewart will be Monarchs' guest reserve in this match.

Also this weekend the Monarchs 100 Fundraisers stage their Forth Bridge walk starting at 10:30 followed by refreshments at the Stadium.

Full Result Details