Knockout Cup semi-final, first-leg: Edinburgh Monarchs 59, Workington Comets 31
Edinburgh: Ricky Wells 9, Victor Palovaara 5, Josh Pickering 7, Richie Worrall 14, Erik Riss 15, William Lawson 2, James Sarjeant (guest) 7
Workington: Nicolai Klindt 0, Rasmus Jensen 8, Kevin Doolan (guest) 7, Rene Bach 3 (withdrawn), Ty Proctor 5, Kyle Bickley 0, Mason Campton 8
Edinburgh Monarchs boss Alex Harkess urged his squad to take a big cushion down to Workington for Saturday’s second-leg of the Knockout Cup semi-final in Cumbria.
And his men produced when it mattered most as the Armadale combine secured a 59-31 first-leg advantage as they strive to stay in the chase for the only major silverware still available to them this season.
Skipper Eric Riss led by example with a 15-point maximum with ex-Glasgow Tigers star Richie Worrall next best on 14 points.
None of the Comets riders reached double figures with Mason Campton and Rasmus Jensen best on eight points.
Earlier, the sides were level at 9-9 after the first three heats in West Lothian, but then Monarchs turned up the heat.
A 4-2 win in the next race was followed by 5-1 scorelines in Heat five and six as Monarchs moved to a 23-13 advantage.
Comets hit back with a 4-2 in Heat Eight but a 5-1 courtesy of Richie Worrall and Josh Pickering in the next race plus a 4-2 in Heat Ten saw the home side move 37-23 ahead.
Then one of Comets star men, Rene Bach, retired from the meeting having taken unwell and Monarchs capitalised with a 4-2 in Heat 11.
Another 4-2 in the next race moved the home side 45-27 ahead and a 5-1 with captain Erik Riss and former Workington star Ricky Wells in the next heat moved Monarchs 50-28 ahead.
And Monarchs finished off Comets with a 4-2 and 5-1 in the final heat for a 59-31 scoreline.
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