Edinburgh Monarchs v Workington Comets

REPORT Friday 3rd June 2011, 10:00pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

It was expected to be a tough match, and it didn't go according to plan for either side, but in the end Monarchs managed to take all three points against league leaders Workington.

Workington started without Peter Kildemand, always a man worth watching, and lost Tomas Topinka on parade after a collision with Kenny Ingalls' mechanic.

So they only had five riders, but on the other hand Monarchs' reserves were so unproductive that they found it very tough to build up any momentum.

In the circumstances Monarchs' top five could not afford many errors, and with Kalle Katajisto struggling in his early rides the weakened Comets held the upper hand.

The opening heat was a good one with Kenny Ingalls leading for the first lap before Matthew Wethers squeezed past. Kevin Wolbert gradually reeled in Ingalls as well, and passed him on the last bend. Ingalls came off but the referee felt that the American had not been fouled.

Lee Dicken managed to grab a second in heat 2, splitting the visitors. Ashley Morris made a poor start and although he got on to Charles Wright's tail, he made no further progress.

Further problems in heat 3 when Andrew Tully got in a tangle trying to come round the outside on the first corner and fell. Kalle Katajisto trailed in behind Lawson and Harrison and Workington were ahead.

Topinka was out of heat 4 so it was the Comets' reserves again, and they shared the heat behind the fast gating Craig Cook.

James Wright made his only start of the night to hold off Tully in heat 5, and Lawson kept Katajisto at the rear again to double the visitors' lead.

You can always count on Kevin and Matthew though, especially with the Comets' reserves in opposition, and their heat 7 5-1 levelled the scores.

The problems weren't over though! Lawson and Harrison took their second 5-1 in heat 7 with Craig Cook unable to make any impression.

Matthew Wethers won heat 8 but by this time we had almost given up hope of our reserves ever scoring, and Ashley Morris was at the back again.

Andrew Tully went ahead in heat 9 but again Katajisto was at the back. He pressed Charles Wright and he made an error, dropping onto his knee although he didn't fall, letting Kalle through.

So we were two behind with the two most successful pairings in heat 10. It was the home duo of Wolbert and Wethers who easily headed Lawson and Harrison to put Monarchs ahead for the first time since heat 2.

Initially James Wright gated in heat 11, with Cook and Dicken following but Charles Wright falling. At the second attempt it was Cook who was better away, but the Comets easily shared the race.

Again in heat 12 Monarchs took advantage of a second start. Lawson had initially led, but Ashley Morris went across the pits corner and crashed into the fence. Second time, it was a win for Tully.

Monarchs were two up but made their big move in heat 13. James Wright was moving at the start but still missed it, and Cook and Wolbert cleaned up the five points to put Monarchs six ahead.

Heat 14 did not look promising, but off gate 4 Kalle Katajisto got it right and rounded the field to lead the way. He seemed to be enjoying it, foot off the peg in spectacular style, but where had that form been earlier?

So a shared heat there meant the match was won, to sighs of relief. Now we needed an advantage to clinch the third point.

With Wolbert and Wethers both unbeaten, we seemed strong favourites against Lawson and Harrison. Even more so when the home pair led from the gate, but Lawson came down, had a look up the track and stayed down.

That was disappointing, even more so when Harrison gated ahead in the rerun. Wolbert took up the chase, and with one of his sweeping dives into the pits corner he took the lead - only for Harrison to run out of space and fall against the fence.

There was no contact, but Wolbert was excluded presumably on the grounds of giving Harrison no room.

We still had a chance though, and Matthew Wethers was again the man for the job, easing ahead round the first corner and winning easily.

Full Result Details