TOP-RATED COMETS NEXT AT ARMADALE

NEWS Tuesday 8th April 2014, 8:30pm

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

The Scotwaste Monarchs lead their League Cup qualifying group but there are crucial matches to race, in particular this weekend’s matches against Workington who experts rate the team to beat in the Premier League this season.

They have a stunning heat leader trio of Grajczonek, Wells and Bach plus top UK prospect Kyle Howarth and will be travelling to post matches this season expecting victories. The Armadale match on Friday promises to be one of the highlights of the season, and Monarchs go to Cumbria on Saturday hoping to pick something up down there.

TEAMS FOR THE LEAGUE CUP MATCH AT ARMADALE ON FRIDAY 11th APRIL (start time 7.30, doors open 6.30) are:

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

WORKINGTON COMETS: Josh Grajczonek, Mason Campton, Ricky Wells, Kyle Howarth, Rene Bach (capt.), Chris Mills, Ashley Morris.

STRONG START: The Scotwaste Monarchs have won their opening four matches, including two away, and that’s something they have only done three times previously – in 1961, 1978 and 2008.

Because winning away is generally tough in speedway, long runs of victories are not all that common.

The best start Monarchs have ever made was in 2008 when the first six meetings were won. That run ended with a narrow 3-point defeat at Workington where, coincidentally, Monarchs race on Saturday.

The team did go on to win the league that season under Derek Sneddon’s captaincy.

CAPTAIN’S COMMENTS: Team captain Derek Sneddon was pleasantly surprised with the win at Berwick, and expressed his confidence over Friday’s home match against the Comets.

He said “as we headed down to Berwick the next day I knew it was going to be a very hard match. I hoped we could get close but I thought it would be very hard to win.

“So in the circumstances to take the win I thought was very good indeed, and once again everyone did their bit.

“This week we know we are going to have our toughest test yet against Workington. It will be very hard down there but the buzz in the camp is the best for years, and I’m comfortable with the home match.”

WORKINGTON SATURDAY: Monarchs travel down to Derwent Park Workington on Saturday for another important League Cup tie. Craig Cook has a date earlier in the day because he will referee a junior event at the nearby Northside Training Track (11.30).

COMETS ARE FAVOURITES: Workington were voted the team most likely to win the Premier League this season by the sport’s journalists. The good news for everyone else is that the experts are usually wrong!

However it is understandable that the Comets are so highly rated. They have young, lively heat leaders in Australian Josh Grajczonek, American Ricky Wells and Dane Rene Bach, a trio who should score heavily in every match.

In addition former Monarchs Kyle Howarth and Ashley Morris should know the track well, though neither would claim to be a track specialist. They are good young riders though, as is returning Aussie Mason Campton who like Monarchs’ Sam Masters missed last year due to visa problems.

The Comets have raced just two home and one away match this season due to the weather, and won their only League Cup match at home.

LAST MEETING: The Scotwaste Monarchs beat Berwick 61-31 at Armadale, a surprisingly easy win in a match expected to be close. Craig Cook with 14 was top scorer, Max Fricke though won the Monarch of the Match award.

NEXT MEETING: Glasgow Tigers are the next visitors in the League Cup on 18th April, Monarchs’ last home meeting in the qualifying section.