OUT of one competition, but on their way through in another, Workington Comets had mixed fortunes on a dramatic speedway Sunday.

For while Edinburgh were winning 58-34 at Glasgow to seal their place in the Premier Trophy semi-finals, Workington were doing the hard part of Knockout Cup qualification.

Staging an amazing fight-back the Comets came from ten points behind to score six successive heat advantages and win at Stoke 50-42 in the first leg of the Knockout Cup match.

Workington needed Glasgow to beat Edinburgh by a big score so that they could sneak into the last four of the Trophy, but that never looked remotely likely.

However Workington are well on their way to a second round match in the Knockout Cup after the fine away win at Stoke. The second leg will be on Bank Holiday Monday, May 26.

Team manager Ian Thomas said: “It was an excellent night’s work. We seemed to be out of it but the guys responded really well and to come back and win the away leg by eight points was quite an achievement.

“We have now won away in the Premier Trophy, the Premier League and the Knockout Cup which is encouraging at this early stage of the season.

“The golden double tactical substitution with Kauko Nieminen coming in and getting second place on the line was crucial but so too were the impeccable riding of Daniel Nermark and the whole-hearted efforts of Charles Wright, particularly his last two winning rides.”

Workington should have staged the first leg at home on Saturday but Derwent Park was untraceable after persistent rain during the day and the meeting was called=-off soon after lunch.

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