Workington Comets v Edinburgh Monarchs

This match started in reasonable conditions but ground to a halt after heat 9 had been run with the rain falling. Thereafter it really came down heavily and the question became ? how can we get out of the stadium without drowning?

There were only a few highlights for the Edinburgh travellers to savour, and none of them in heat 1 which we lost 5-1. We seem to have lost our old ?maximum start? habit.

However we were pleased to see Kyle Howarth gate well to lead the home reserves to the flag, Kyle?s best ride for a while. Our guest Byron Bekker held third till the last lap but Gary Irving caught him.

Andrew Tully and Matthew Wethers caught Rusty Harrison down the back straight in heat 3, and Rusty fell on the next bend.

Craig Cook?s return to Derwent Park had been much appreciated and he did give chase to Irving and Jorgensen, but he ground to a halt with a blown engine and didn?t earn much sympathy from the home fans.

We had another good moment in heat 5, right at the end, as Kevin Wolbert pulled off an excellent outside pass on Topinka to grab second. Our gating was terrible but at least Kevin managed an excellent overtake.

Craig Cook then lost a 5-1, and we took a 5-3 with Matthew on a TR from heat 7 after Irving fell heavily.

We should have shared heat 8 behind Lawson, but Kalle dismally lost third place on the final lap, and with the rain falling heavily heat 9 was interesting. Craig Cook took the white line, Rusty Harrison the boards and it was Rusty who came out on top. After that, rain was the only winner.