Workington Comets 48, Glasgow Tigers 45

NOT for the first time this season, Workington Comets looked set for a three-point victory – only to be outdone by the tactical ride.

Ten points up with three heats left the Comets were left with a battle to cling on to the victory as the Tigers battled back into the contest.

Skipper James Grieves collected six points from a successful tactical ride and with guest Steve Johnston taking third – the pair split by Kevin Doolan – the 7-2 heat points brought the Tigers within touching distance.

The visitors gave themselves a chance of victory after a 4-2 in heat fourteen when the impressive Justin Sedgman raced clear of Craig Cook and Mitchell Davey clinched third when Richard Lawson fell.

A 5-1 for Grieves and Johnston in the final race of the night would have snatched a remarkable one point victory for the Tigers but for once the Glasgow skipper was found wanting at the start.

Doolan and Adrian Rymel made good starts but Johno surged round them to lead with Grieves at the back, and that’s the way it stayed for four laps. The 3-3 was sufficient to give Workington their victory – but with only two points to show for it.

King’s Lynn’s 49-41 victory at Glasgow earlier today emphasised just how big a task the Comets have on their hands next Saturday when the Stars visit Derwent Park in the first leg of the Premier Trophy semi-final.

Rymel and Doolan were Workington’s big hitters on the night with 13 and 12 respectively, with the Czech Republic star racing to four wins out of five starts. Doolan set the two fastest times of the night in winning his two races from five rides.

But the third leader, Andre Compton, had a few bike problems after his first race win and could only manage a second place from his three subsequent races.

It was left to emerging reserve Craig Cook to offer most support to the top two as he finished with nine points and three bonus from another busy night of six rides.

With fellow reserve John Branney chalking-up a solid six points on his Derwent Park return the Comets were well-served at the bottom of the order, with 15 points compared to just sic from Davey for Glasgow. Lee Dicken failed to score.

Workington’s use of the rider replacement facility for the injured Charles Wright wasn’t blessed with an abundance of points. The four programmed rides earned just two points – down to Branney and Richard Lawson.

Glasgow didn’t fare much better themselves with four points from their rider replacement for Josh Grajczonek but had good back-up for skipper Grieves through guest Johnston – only one win, but one that mattered in his ten point haul, and fellow Australian Sedgman, who had seven solid points after an opening ride disqualification for touching the tapes.

Workington, in fact, didn’t get in front until heat five but it never grew beyond six points until the first 5-1 of the night. Rymel and the excellent Cook went away from Davey in heat 12 with former Comets favourite Rusty Harrison stranded at the back.

But what should have been the signal for a big finish to clinch the extra point didn’t materialise as Glasgow powered back for their first away point of the season.

*Craig Cook continued his run of goof form for Buxton Hitmen today when he scored 16 points and a bonus in a 53-39 win over the Isle of Wight. Cook had five wins and a third from his six rides.

Workington Comets 48

1. Kevin Doolan 2,3,3,2,2 =12
2. Charles Wright R/R
3. Adrian Rymel 3,3,3,1' = 10+1
4. Richard Lawson 0,1,1',1, F = 2+1
5. Andre Compton 3,0,2,0 = 5
6. Craig Cook 0,1',3,1',2',2 = 9+3
7. John Branney 2,1,1,0 = 4

Glasgow Tigers 45

1. James Grieves 3,2,3,6*,0 = 14
2. Josh Grajczonek R/R
3. Rusty Harrison 2,2,1',0 = 5+1
4. Justin Sedgman (G) T,1',1',2,3 = 7+2
5. Steve Johnston (G) 2,2,2,1,3 = 10
6. Mitchell Davey 1,3,0,0,1,1 = 6
7. Lee Dicken 0,0,0,0,0 = 0

Heat by heat

Heat 1: Grieves, Doolan, Davey, Cook - 2-4, 2-4, 65.1
Heat 2: Davey, Branney, Cook, Dicken - 3-3, 5-7, 65.3
Heat 3: Rymel, Harrison, Sedgman, Lawson - 3-3, 8-10, 65.0
Heat 4: Compton, Johnston, Branney, Dicken - 4-2, 12-12, 64.6
Heat 5: Rymel, Grieves, Lawson, Dicken - 4-2, 16-14, 65.7
Heat 6: Doolan, Johnston, Branney, Dicken - 4-2, 20-16, 64.6
Heat 7: Cook, Harrison, Sedgman, Compton - 3-3, 23-19, 67.1
Heat 8: Harrison, Branney, Lawson, Davey - 3-3, 26-22, 66.7
Heat 9: Rymel, Johnston, Lawson, Dicken - 4-2, 30-24, 64.9
Heat 10: Doolan, Sedgman, Harrison, Branney - 3-3, 33-27, 64.5
Heat 11: Grieves, Compton, Cook, Dicken - 3-3, 36-30, 65.2
Heat 12: Rymel, Cook, Davey, Harrison - 5-1, 41-31, 66.0
Heat 13: Grieves, Doolan, Johnston, Compton - 2-7, 43-38, 65.0
Heat 14: Sedgman, Cook, Davey, Lawson - 2-4, 45-42,65.0
Heat 15: Johnston, Doolan, Rymel, Grieves - 3-3, 48-45, 64.8

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