By John Walsh

Last updated 13:10, Thursday, 25 September 2008

Workington Comets will be tackling the new Premier League champions Edinburgh Monarchs this weekend when they contest the semi-final of the Knockout Cup.

Guest rider: Tomas Topinka, red helmet, will ride for Comets against Edinburgh

Somerset’s 48-44 defeat at Birmingham last night meant they couldn’t catch the Monarchs who have one more match to ride against fierce rivals Glasgow.

The Rebels had kept themselves in contention with an excellent win on the Isle of Wight on Tuesday but couldn’t sustain their late effort in the midlands.

The Comets ride at Edinburgh tomorrow night and stage the return at Derwent Park 24 hours later.

Workington team manager Ian Thomas said: “I think it will give the match a little bit of an edge. They have just been confirmed as champions and we will be the first team to ride against them.

“We know they are a very good team, who deserve to finish top of the League but it will be up to us to ensure that they don’t go on to complete a League and Cup double.

“I think it’s obvious we have a lot of incentive for this one – not just because we want to beat the League champions but because it would put us into a final, when we have never won a seven man trophy.

“It’s been an excellent season already with the Best Pairs and Fours wins, while our rider reached the final of the individual championship. The icing on the cake will be to win team silverware.”

Workington will have Tomas Topinka guesting in both meetings as he again stands in for the injured Daniel Nermark who is recovering from knee surgery which he underwent in Poland.

The King’s Lynn star has scored consistently well for the Comets when he has stood in for the injured Nermark and Thomas will be looking for a similar points-haul in the Knockout Cup matches.

When the King’s Lynn Stars lost 54-39 at Armadale in May in a Premier League match Topinka top-scored for the visitors with 15 points from five outings – but that included six points for a winning tactical ride.

When the sides drew 45-45 at King’s Lynn earlier in the season Topinka scored a 15-point five-ride maximum.

Last night Topinka finished fourth in the Pride of the East individual event at King’s Lynn which was won by Davey Watt of Poole. Troy Batchelor and Kevin Doolan filled the other podium places.

Thomas said: “Tomas has done exceptionally well against the Monarchs this season with eight race wins from ten rides against them. I just hope he’s still got a few left in the locker for Friday and Saturday.”

Balanced against that are Workington’s poor results in two visits to Armadale – beaten 56-37 in March in the Premier Trophy and then thumped 59-30 in a Premier League match in August which was screened by Sky.

By contrast Workington won the home Trophy leg 48-45 and took the League match 53-39 at Derwent Park – so would have lost on aggregate in both competitions.