[A] tough weekend lies ahead for the Workington Comets as they face key SGB Championship home and away fixtures against the highly-rated Glasgow Tigers.
The Tigers visit Derwent Park on Saturday evening with the action getting underway at 7:00pm and then, the following day, the Comets visit Glasgow for the return fixture, which gets starts at 3:00pm.
Glasgow have a solid septet and it is one that contains two West Cumbrian-born riders in Richard Lawson, the former Comets skipper and current track record holder at Derwent Park, and hot teenage prospect Dan Bewley from Maryport. Add in the very much in-form Richie Worrall and their Australian-born captain Aaron Summers along with the fast-improving young Finn, Nike Lunna, and it s clear to see why, with such a strong top-five the Tigers were strongly tipped to pick up some silverware this season.
Meanwhile, for a second successive weekend, the Comets go into the fixtures without their second reserve Rob Shuttleworth, who sustained concussion and a broken thumb in a crash with Ipswich’s Nathan Greaves at Derwent Park two weeks ago. Although the mandatory nine-day period on the sidelines for concussion has now expired it is the thumb injury that is continuing to keep him out of action.
This means that the Comets are again reliant on guest riders to deputise for Shuttleworth, with team manager Tony Jackson once again encountering difficulties in finding guest replacements for two-point reserves.
“It certainly gets no easier, whichever week you need a guest for your lowest ranked reserve,” bemoaned Jackson.
“However, we are once again grateful to two riders that have helped us out previously; with Ryan MacDonald agreeing to help us out at Ashfield on Sunday and Buxton’s Tom Woolley stepping in at number seven at Workington on Saturday.
“Ryan previously helped us out at Berwick last Saturday while Tom was all changed and ready to race for us at Peterborough a couple of weeks ago before the rain came and postponed the meeting, so hopefully he will finally get a chance to show us what he can do this weekend.”
This weekend also sees a change in the Comets riding order as, following last Saturday’s visit to Berwick, five of the side have now completed the necessary four home and four away league fixtures to enable them to attain a new 2017 average. This sees in-form reserve Matt Williamson move into the main body of the side while James Sarjeant moves in the opposite direction to fill the reserve berth vacated by him.
“Matt’s average has jumped up by over two-and-a-half points so far this season, from 3.58 to 6.23, which is why he has been described as the most improved reserve in the Championship this year,” said club owner Laura Morgan.
“He has been picking up points home and away and, with the exception of the reserves race, heat 2, he has been beating many of the same riders that he will meet now that he is in the main body of the team.
“This is the next step in his speedway education and it was one of the targets that he set himself at the beginning of the season, so to achieve it this early is a great reward for all the hard work that he puts in to his racing.
“With Matt you get one hundred percent effort in every race and knowing Matt as we do; now he is in the top-five he will be determined to stay there and continue to progress, which is a great attitude to see in a young British rider.
“Meanwhile, after a tough start adapting to his new home, James is relishing the move to reserve to ride himself into the points and his return to Glasgow on Sunday, where he spent the 2015 season in what was his breakthrough year, will give him the perfect opportunity to do just that,” concluded Morgan.
Following Saturday’s home fixture against the Tigers there will also be a six-heat Northern Junior League match between the Northside Stars and the Glasgow based Ashfield Giants.
Saturday’s home meeting against Glasgow is sponsored by one of the Comets long-time sponsors and Key Partners for 2017; Kirkland Carpets of Cleator Moor.
With the new speedway season now well underway there are sponsorship packages for all budgets available with the club and for home meetings on request from Dan on 01900 813999 or via email [email protected]
COMETS UPCOMING FIXTURES:
- Saturday 10th June at 7:00pm: Workington v Glasgow (SGB Championship)
- Sunday 11th June at 3:00pm: Glasgow v Workington (SGB Championship)
