Can We Stop The Comets

PREVIEW Friday 8th June 2018, 12:00pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

After another enforced and unwanted break it's back to action at Armadale this week as the Staggs Bar Monarchs host the Workington Comets in Championship Shield action.

This will finish our home campaign for the shield and it is the Comets who are the ones with something to race for as they head north knowing a draw or win will clinch a semi berth for the Cumbria side.

The Monarchs are currently mathematically out of the running although with no indication that the result of the protest of the Comets team in our fixture at Derwent Park has been resolved then theoretically if that was reversed we still stand a chance of qualification. However no one in the Monarchs camp really expects any favours on that front.

So it will be Workington with the bit between the teeth as they look to complete the group unbeaten, the only reason they are not already through is that remarkably 3 of their 5 fixtures have ended in draws. Home and away to Berwick and at home to Glasgow last Saturday. A remarkable result at Ashfield looked to have put them in the driving seat but they could not finish the job last weekend and it is now last chance saloon for the unpredictable Comets.

It is hard to know what to expect from the visitors with some startlingly brilliant performances being mixed in with some fairly average ones but perhaps that was always to be the case when looking at their team.

A mixture of youth and experience meant it was always going to be hard to judge just what the Derwent Park side were capable off and while there have been flashes from most of the team no one has been consistently outstanding.

There is plenty of firepower in the side with a Danish triumvirate of Nikolai Klindt, Rasmus Jensen and Rene Bach towards the top end and Ty Proctor revitalised after early season visa woes. Dan Bewley has mixed in some sensational performances with some average and this is probably to be expected for the just turned 19 year old. Mason Campton has made a successful return from an early season wrist injury but questions are still being asked as to whether the Comets would have been better served sticking with replacement Bradley Wilson-Dean.

Completing the side is Kyle Bickley who is finding life a little tough at this level it has to be said after making the step up from the National League.

For the home side it is a full strength line-up (isn't it nice to see that for both teams) as we look to build some momentum after the unbelievable result at Ashfield just under 2 weeks ago. After a paid 11 haul over the 2 legs Coty Garcia continues in the side for Matt Williamson and with a further couple of weeks to prepare we can expect much of the same from the Argentinean.

Elsewhere we will be led as usual by our big two of Ricky Wells and Erik Riss who are in fantastic form. Ricky dropping only 2 points over the two legs against the Tigers with Erik not far behind with only 5 points dropped from his ten rides over the two legs. They have been well backed up at home by Mark who will be looking to build on his early season form while of course both Joel and Max have shown flashes and Max in particular should be buoyed by a trip home during the break.

So another big night in store as the Comets go in search of the result that will propel them into the semis, can the Monarchs stop them? There is only one way to find out and that's to get yourself to Armadale to take in the action.

See you there!

Full Result Details