Workington Comets’ number one Connor Bailey scored four points on his Redcar debut.
The young Australian picked up two second places from his four rides and helped the Bears to a 46-44 win over a Newcastle Diamonds Select septet on Friday.
Bailey was riding at number two for the Rebels having joined the Championship side for the new season along with the Comets in the National Development League.
Bailey had started with a couple of last places but in heats eight and 10 he finished second in each.
The effort in heat eight was particularly important as he split the two Newcastle riders while in the other he followed home Redcar’s top scorer Erik Riss (13) for a 5-1 and earned a bonus point.
Former Workington rider Charles Wright added 11 points to the Redcar total while his brother James Wright, a former Comets star picked up five points and a bonus for the Diamonds.
Redcar’s co-promoter Jamie Swales said: “The three heat leaders were awesome throughout, so I knew they were going to keep us in the meeting, but it was just about the other four boys building their confidence which definitely came by the end.
“All of the four boys had at least one good ride in the meeting, which is encouraging.
“Connor had the wrong set-up at the start which was part of the reason we did tonight’s meeting, but by the end of the night he was away and riding really well!”
