Workington Comets suffered their first defeat of the season when they lost 49-41 to Mildenhall Fen Tigers at Northside.
It was tight all the way, with never more than four in it either way, until the visitors collected maximum points in the important heats 13 and 15, to set-up their victory.
Workington had some bad luck during the meeting but were up against a very good Mildenhall side whose three heat leaders scored 33 points between them.
The most positive aspect for the Comets was that reserve Luke Harrison, back from injury, underlined his great potential with a top-scoring performance of 12 and a bonus point.
A crucial factor, though, was that only Harrison and number one Connor Bailey actually won heats for the Comets, each enjoying three race victories.
On the downside for Comets team boss James Denham was a concussion injury to reserve Elliot Kelly, which saw him withdrawn from the meeting after two rides, and the continuing struggles of Harry McGurk, who only managed a point from his four rides.
Everything had looked promising early on for the Comets as Bailey and Ace Pijper fired the home side to a 5-1 lead after the first heat in which the Australian lowered his own track record by almost a second and a half to 56.5.
Although William Richardson had to come-off a 15-metre handicap in the reserves race, the Fen Tigers still got a share of the points when Kelly fell while in third place and a potential 4-2 became an awarded 3-3.
Three successive heat advantages to the Fen Tigers – two 5-1’as and a 4-2 – demonstrated the power they had in the side and suddenly after five heats the Comets were looking at an 18-12 deficit.
Inevitably Bailey led the fight-back, beating Lee Complin in what proved to be the second fastest time of the day and inside his old track record.
Although Ben Trigger won heat seven home skipper Luke Crang and Harrison earned the Comets a share of the points.
There had to be two attempts to run heat eight. Kelly fell and team-mate Ace Pijper came down trying to avoid him.
Referee Dave Watters declared un unsatisfactory start but Kelly was unable to go in the re-run and his place was taken by Harrison.
This time the Fen Tigers’ reserve Josh Warren fell in the race and it was stopped. With only Arran Butcher in the second re-run the visitors conceded a 5-1 as Harrison and Pijper got the Comets back on terms at 24-24.
Sam McGurk and brother Harry followed home Complin in the next for a share of the points and then an impressive 5-1 in heat ten put the Comets back in front again. Bailey and Pijper held off Trigger for maximum points.
Unfortunately for the Comets, Harrison suffered mechanical problems when in third place in heat eleven and a potential 3-3 became 2-4 to cut their lead to two points.
It was all square again at 36-36 after 12 when the hard-working Harrison split Trigger and Warren but in a big heat thirteen Bailey missed the gate and couldn’t reel in the impressive Alfie Bowtell and Complin.
That 5-1 gave the Fen Tigers a 41-37 lead but there was then a 35-minute delay while the ambulance was called to a medical emergency in the crowd.
The Comets needed a heat advantage in the penultimate race but the points were shared as Harrison won but was chased home by George Congreve and Warren.
The Fen Tigers completed their victory in the last when the impressive Alfie Bowtell got away with Complin and as Bailey was challenging for second his chain broke and he went down, with the race awarded as a 5-1 to the visitors.
Afterwards team manager James Denham said: “We had some bad luck on the day but fair play to Mildenhall they rode very well. The lads heads are not down and they will be ready to go again next week.
“Unfortunately Elliott Kell will be out for 12 days because he suffered a concussion. Some of the averages will change and he could be into the body of the team which would mean us using rider replacement. We will have to see when the new averages come out.”
Workington: Connor Bailey 10; Ace Pijper 8 + 3; Sam McGurk 5; Harry McGurk 1 + 1; Luke Crang 4; Luke Harrison 12 + 1; Elliot Kelly 1.
Mildenhall: Alfie Bowtell 13; Arran Butcher 2; Ben Trigger 9 + 1; George Congreve 5; Lee Complin 11 + 3; William Richardson 1 + 1; Josh Warren 8 + 1.
