Saturday Showdown

PREVIEW Saturday 19th April 2025, 8:11am

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

After the disappointment of the weather intervening and causing Friday night's Armadale encounter to be postponed all eyes now turn to Cumbria as the Stellar Monarchs take on the Workington Comets in what is now the first leg of their MaxiCab KO Cup clash.

The Comets have been one of the success stories in the sport since returning with constant improvement to their Northside Arena being matched by reasonable success on the track.

This years side is led by a trio that were part of last years re-introduction at Championship level in Troy Batchelor, Tate Zischke and Antti Vuolas.

Elsewhere a couple of ex-Monarchs Jye Etheridge and Jacob Hook make the move to boost the ranks while all action Vinnie Foord heads north from a spell at Poole.

The team is completed by Fraser Bowes who makes his UK debut albeit with plenty of experience in Poland under his belt.

This is the Comets first match of the year so form is hard to find for some but given the availability of their track for practice sessions there will be no thoughts of catching the Comets cold.

For the Stellar Monarchs it is a case of more of the same please after victory at Ashfield last Friday night.

Captain Paco Castagna returns after missing out of that one but there is a change at the bottom end of the team where Max James rests up after an awkward tumble riding at National League level, Monarchs Academy man Matt Marson steps in.

As always in any two legged cup affair solidness and no mistakes will be the name of the game as both sides look to put a stamp on the tie.

Tapes up is at 1pm with live updates available on the Monarchs official website throughout.