Monarchs finish season eleventh in league

Nov 3 2011 by Kieran Westbrook, West Lothian Courier

THE Scotwaste Monarchs came close in two of their last three away matches but in the end the season finished in disappointment.

After finishing first, second, first in the last three seasons, the final finishing position of 11th out of 14 teams is poor and doesn’t reflect the ability in the team.

There haven’t been serious injury problems, but there have been niggling difficulties, not least last weekend when hopes of some success were dashed almost at the start of the weekend when Craig Cook injured his foot at Plymouth.

With Monarchs already leading the match, Cook hit the fence in his first race while leading, and bent a metal spar in his boot which cut his foot.

In spite of that, Monarchs fought hard before going down 50-43 to the Devils.

At Newport the next day, without Cook, hopes were not high against the team who recently won the cup and who have stormed up the league since signing Danish star Charlie Gjedde.

It was very wet and with Kevin Wolbert, Andrew Tully and Adam Roynon riding brilliantly, it seemed Monarchs would gain at least a point.

However again it was not to be and the eventual loss by 51-42 didn’t do justice to Monarchs’ efforts.

Finally the team headed for Workington for the final match and lost 55-39, Wolbert and Tully again doing well.

Now the thinking begins; putting together a team for 2012 to take Monarchs back up the league.

Next season is expected to open at Armadale on Friday 23rd March.