WITH the League championship title wrapped up after an extraordinary 48 hours this week, Edinburgh Scotwaste Monarchs are now focusing their sights on pulling off a unique trophy treble.
The Capital champions face Workington Comets in the first leg of the Premier League Knockout Cup semi-final at Armadale tonight with the deciding leg at Derwent Park tomorrow evening.
And on Sunday Monarchs are virtually guaranteed to lift the Pre
mier Trophy when they defend a massive 41-point lead at Birmingham Brummies, the side who helped Monarchs clinch the crown by defeating their chief rivals Somerset Rebels in midweek.
Monarchs captain Derek Sneddon, who is only just starting to come back down to earth following his side's dramatic championship triumph, is aware that Workington potentially present a major hurdle to Monarchs chances of going through to the final where they would face Somerset.
Monarchs thrashed the Comets 59-30 in their Sky-televised league clash in August and a repeat of that scoreline would surely see the Monarchs sail through over two legs.
But Sneddon, ever the realist, thinks that this is a fanciful notion.
He said: "It would be fantastic if we could rattle up such a scoreline again.
"But Workington had so much bad luck during the first half of that match, I can't see it happening again.
"We have shown already against some of the big teams who have come to Armadale that we do have a pretty good home advantage and this has seen us rattle up some hefty scores this season."
Monarchs are concerned about the return trip to Workington – and with some justification.
They were heavily beaten 53-39 on their league visit a few weeks ago and cannot allow the Comets to score at will this time.
Although Derwent Park should be one of the top racing strips in the league, it's more like the M25 and the lack of dirt favours visiting teams who are sharp out of the starts.
Monarchs are evidently not one of those sides, and Sneddon conceded: "Last month was the first time we had been at Workington for a while and the track was so slick it was unbelievable.
"We all got caught out. It is disappointing to go to a track like Workington knowing you won't be able to pass.
"But these things happen in speedway – you just have to adjust to them.
"At least this time we should be a lot more clued up about the track conditions down there. It's okay if you visit Workington two or three times a season but we don't and that's why we struggled so badly with our bike set-ups.
"I really toiled and only scored two points. I'll be disappointed if I don't improve upon that. Every point is going to be crucial over the two matches."
The Comets may garner a glimmer of hope from the fact the Monarchs made heavy going of taming Glasgow Tigers last week.
Sneddon explained: "The weather once again caused a bit of bother. Doc (Alan Bridgett) couldn't get the track the way he really wanted.
"And it was a lot slicker than it normally is. It was okay for me because I like to make the gate. But the rest of the lads who like to come from the back couldn't do it because there was no dirt and that's why it became harder to overcome Glasgow than it should have been."
Workington, who are set to be squeezed out of a top-four slot for the promotion and relegation play-offs, will see the Knockout Cup as the one opportunity to assuage their disappointment.
Their No.1, Daniel Nermark, a former Monarch, is injured and out for the season. As a result, the Cumbrian outfit have provisionally booked in King's Lynn's Tomas Topinka as a guest.
But Monarchs will have one eye on their trip to Birmingham, where Premier Trophy glory awaits.
"After Birmingham did us a massive favour by beating Somerset, we better not count our chickens," joked Sneddon. "But, in truth, we do have a massive first-leg lead.
"And, after clinching the league, I believe the treble is very much on.
"But, as Birmingham showed in midweek, when all their team get going they are a good team."
Promoter John Campbell is now more relaxed about Monarchs' treble dream.
He said: "Obviously, with the major prize secured, the lesser prizes aren't quite so important. It would still be nice to win them all, though."
The full article contains 754 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
