Fascinating match up in the first Cup hurdle

NEWS Thursday 17th April 2025, 8:37am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

Nobody wants to fall at the first hurdle in the MAXicab Knock Out Cup, so when the Stellar Monarchs face up to Workington Comets this weekend (first leg at Armadale on Friday), both teams will have every incentive to be at their best and win the tie.

The two teams have a similar makeup and are built for solidity more than top-end strength. Both have riders making their debut at Armadale because Oskar Polis of the Monarchs has only ridden Armadale in practise, Tate Zischke and Fraser Bowes of the Comets have not been at Armadale, and visiting reserve Vinnie Foord has only ridden there at National League level.

Leading the Comets' challenge are experienced ex-GP rider Troy Batchelor and Finn Antti Vuolas who had an excellent first season last year. At reserve Jacob Hook has of course been a popular Monarch in 2022-3.

Monarchs have had their opening Scottish Cup ties with Glasgow, both matches having been won by the away team. Friday's match will be the first time Monarchs have had their full 1-7 lining up. Workington however haven't had a match.

Team manager Alex Harkess sees that as a possible advantage. He says "Workington did very well last year, but they haven't had a match this season yet. They had the Pairs at their own track and didn't do as well as I thought they might have.

"They've got good riders in their team and up till last weekend they may have thought they would have an easy tie against us – but I doubt they think that now. It's up to us, I'm not worrying too much about what Workington are going to do, I'm just worrying about what we are going to do."

Friday's match will be Live Streamed for those who cannot attend, details on www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk.

FRIDAY'S MATCH:

Friday 18th April: Edinburgh Monarchs v Workington Comets (MAXicab Knockout Cup Cup 1st leg), Armadale, 7:30pm

STELLAR MONARCHS: Justin Sedgmen, Jonatan Grahn, Kye Thomson, Oskar Polis, Paco Castagna (Capt.), Victor Palovaara, Max James.

GT TYRES COMETS: Troy Batchelor (Capt.), Fraser Bowes, Tate Zischke, Jye Etheridge, Antti Vuolas, Jacob Hook, Vinnie Foord.

The second leg of the Cup tie is at the GT Tyres Arena on Saturday 19th April at 1:00pm – note the very early start time.