Workington Comets top of National Development League

Sam McGurk and Connor Bailey on their way to a last heat 5-1. Picture: Dave Payne

Workington Comets went top of the National Development League when they collected their third successive win by completing a quick double over the Berwick Bullets.

After a 48-38 win on Saturday night the newly reformed Comets won 50-40 at Northside to wrap-up the extra aggregate point.

The Workington team welcomed back number one Connor Bailey, who had been riding for Redcar on Saturday night but were without skipper Luke Crang. He had injured his right leg in a crash at Berwick and Luke Harrison was named as number eight.

Mason Watson, Sam McGurk, Greg Blair and Luke Harrison leave the start. Picture: Dave Payne

There was a 50 minute delay before the start as the ambulance and medical crew were caught up in a delay due to an accident on the A69.

Bailey made a dramatic return in heat one coming from third to second on the fourth bend of lap two, and then under team-mate Ace Pijper coming out of turn two on the third lap.

He went on to take the heat in a new track record of 57.9 which he had set in the opening meeting with Edinburgh.

Heat two was packed with drama after the Comets gated on a 5-1 but on turn two of the opening lap leader Kelsey Dugard straightened up and ploughed into the air fence at high speed in a frightening crash.

He was fortunate to have just picked up an injury to his right arm but he was excluded from the re-run and withdrawn from the meeting. Team-mate Elliot Kelly laid his bike down and also went into the air fence just ahead of him at high speed too.

Elliot Kelly on the inside of Greg Blair. Picture: Dave Payne

He was able to carry on and won the re-run with a tenacious effort as he took the lead on lap three and held off the two Betrwick riders for a share of the race points.

The scores were level after heat three when the McGurk brothers – Sam and Harry – were out-gated by Danny Phillips and Jamie Helder for Berwick’s only 5-1 of the meeting.

Luke Harrison made his first appearance of the season for the Comets in heat four on his return from injury and took third place. Bailey led from tape to flag to set new track record of 57.1 seconds, beating the time he set in heat one.

After seven heats the Comets held a 24-18 lead and in the eighth only just managed to collect an important 5-1,

Luke Harrison back in action for the Comets. Picture: Dave Payne

Kelly was second behind Pijper coming off turn two for the final time when he shed a chain but fortunately was able to coast around to the chequered flag. He only just managed to retain second spot ahead of Greg Blair, who had fallen when second on lap two but was able to remount and give chase.

Heat nine was awarded as a 4-2 to the Bullets as Sam McGurk was second until he fell on turn one of the third lap and others had to lay it down behind him.

Elliot Kelly, on the outside, and Kelsey Dugard lead into the first turn in the second heat. Picture: Dave Payne

Bailey continued his fine form in heat ten when he produced another great pass to get round Phillips on turn four of opening lap to hit the front.

Arguably the race of the day was in heat twelve with the Comets pair of Sam McGurk and Kelly all over Halder without being able to find a way past him despite trying for all four laps. All the front three were very close at the chequered flag as the points were shared.

Connor Bailey ahead of Danny Phillips. Picture: Dave Payne

In heat thirteen Bailey went hard under Blair entering turn three on the second lap, forcing Blair wide where he got into difficulty and fell. The race was awarded as a 4-2 with Blair excluded.

Connor Bailey celebrates his paid maximum. Picture: Dave Payne

The final race of the meeting provided a comfortable Comets all-the-way 5-1 to finish off the meeting how it started and secure the win and the aggregate bonus point.