Workington Comets will be chasing a 20-point deficit when they take on Edinburgh Monarchs at Northside tonight.
The Armadale team raced to a 55-35 win last night in the first leg of the Championship clash.
That represented a substantial improvement on the 65-24 hammering they suffered in a BSL Series meeting in May.
But they have it all to do back at home with Jye Etheridge struggling after a heavy fall.
The Australian had to miss meetings earlier in the month after a fall had left him sore and bruised, and this created more problems, forcing a withdrawal after just the one ride.
Workington relied heavily on skipper Troy Batchelor (15) and former Edinburgh rider Jacob Hook (13) as the pair scored all but seven of the team’s points.
Etheridge and Fraser Bowes didn’t score while Tate Zischke only managed a single point.
Antti Vuolas (3 + 1) and Vinnie Foord (3) struggled to make an impact on the Armadale track.
Batchelor won four races and Hook was first home in three but the telling factor was that 11 times a Workington rider failed to score out of the 15 heats.
The fact that the Comets picked-up only one bonus point – Vuolas after finishing third behind Hook in heat 12 – was a clear indication that they were struggling.
They did manage one heat advantage, a 4-2 in heat nine, which was won by Hook with Ziscke in third, but after Michael Palm Toft had been excluded.
Justin Sedgmen, who was the meat in the Comets sandwich in that ninth heat, scored 11 + 2 for the Monarchs, as did Kye Thomson.
Number seven Jordy Loftus was the only Edinburgh rider not to win a race but still managed to pick up 4 + 2.
It’s a tough weekend for the Comets as they ride again tonight and are off to Oxford on Sunday for the second leg of a Championship clash, with an eight point lead from last Saturday’s home clash.
Edinburgh’s Sedgmen said: “I think all of the boys did their bit, including myself. Twenty points is great, but the bonus is ours to lose so we’ve got to hit them hard.
“I thought one or two decisions might have gone our way, there were restarts and the bikes were starting to get a little worn out. I had to sort my clutches out, it was hard work but the end result was a good one.
“It’s good to rock up with everyone there which we didn’t have during the week, and the seven of us do ride well together.”
Workington boss James Denham said: “Tonight’s home meeting at the GT Tyres Arena is a big one for us – we always get that extra lift from our supporters and we’ll be looking to make the most of it.
“We just need everyone to step up and now is when it matters.”
- Edinburgh Monarchs 55: Victor Palovaara 9; Paco Castagna 7 + 3; Justin Sedgmen 11 + 2; Michael Palm Toft 6; Kye Thomson 11 + 2; Jonathan Grahn 7 + 1; Jordy Loftus 4 + 2.
- Workington Comets 35: Troy Batchelor 15; Fraser Bowes 0; Antti Vuolas 3 + 1; Jye Etheridge 0; Tate Zischke 1; Jacob Hook 13; Vinnie Foord 3.
