Edinburgh 49 Workington Comets 41: Workington Comets started their Premier League campaign with a battling 49-41 defeat at reigning champions Edinburgh that fell just short of securing a league point.

A pair of 4-2s in the opening two heats put Comets in the driving seat, but Edinburgh halted that momentum as Kevin Wolbert won in heat three, with Kenneth Hansen and Mason Campton keeping him honest to draw.

The hosts halved Workington’s lead with a 4-2 in heat four, Ryan Fisher leading from Vissing while Williamson slid off leaving Dan Bewley to finish third.

Wells and Jensen repeated their performance from the opening heat but this time the Dane held on for an away 5-1 to stretch Comets’ lead to six points.

Edinburgh responded with a 5-1, Riss and Masters beating Vissing and Roynon before Fisher won heat seven in a 4-2 to even the scores.

A draw in heat eight made the scores 24-24, with Riss powering round ahead of Jensen and Williamson, before another share of the spoils in heat nine courtesy of a Vissing victory.

Momentum shifted in heat 10 as Edinburgh secured a dominant 5-1 through Masters and Riss to take the lead.

The tension ramped up as a draw and a home 4-2 stretched Edinburgh's lead to six points.

Wells battled hard in heat 13 to split Masters and Fisher and limit Edinburgh to a 4-2 but the away side faced a struggle in the final two heats to get a result from the meeting.

A 3-3 in heat 14 with Campton and Williamson chasing Clegg left Comets needing a heat advantage in the final heat to take anything back to Workington.

Wells produced the goods in the final heat to take the win, but Jensen was stranded at the back for a draw.

EDINBURGH MONARCHS 49: Sam Masters 12+1, Ryan Fisher 11+1, Kevin Wolbert 9, Erik Riss 8+1, Max Clegg 7, Jye Etheridge 1+1, Daniel Bewley 1

WORKINGTON COMETS 41: Ricky Wells 13, Kenneth Hansen 7, Rasmus Jensen 6+2, Claus Vissing 6, Matt Williamson 5+2, Mason Campton 3, Adam Roynon 1 Premier League points: Edinburgh 3 Workington 0