Workington Comets crashed to a disappointing 50-40 defeat at Kent Royals this afternoon in a National Development League meeting.
In a remarkable statistic the Comets did not have a race winner in the first 11 heats – but then proceeded to win each of the last four.
Unfortunately for them only heat 12 produced an advantage (4-2) with the last three races all shared (3-3).
That 4-2 in heat twelve proved to be the only advantage on the whole meeting for the Comets who had gone into the contest optimistic over their chances of beating the team immediately below them in the table.
The highlight for the beaten Comets didn’t come until the last race of the afternoon when Connor Bailey was out-gated but in a storming finish went round the outside of Nathan Ablitt and Ben Morley to snatch his second win.
His first had come in heat 13 when he flew from the gate and couldn’t be caught, although it was only a 3-3 as Ace Pijper did all he could but couldn’t get past Morley for third place.
Skipper Luke Crang won heat 14 with a determined ride to come out of the first bend in front and he was able to stay although race partner Elliot Kelly had fallen at that first bend, remounted and was unable to get into the points.
The only other race win for the Comets came from Luke Harrison in heat twelve. He got the lead on the second bend of the first lap and held it well with Kelly comfortable in third place for their only heat advantage.
Earlier Kelly had picked up three second places, but failed to score in his last outing in the penultimate heat when he fell and re-mounted.
It wasn’t Pijper’s day as he fell and was excluded in his first race; took a bonus point third in his next; had a great race with Tom Woolley in his third outing but when nipping through on the inside to snatch the race knocked off his rival and was excluded.
To complete a miserable afternoon he had a great battle with Morley for third place in heat 13 but just couldn’t get past.
Kent Royals 50: Ben Morley 11 + 2; Rhys Naylor (rider replacement); Matt Marson 10; Tom Woolley 9; Nathan Ablitt 13; Eli Meadows 0; Connor King 7 + 2; Number eight: Chris Watts 0.
Workington 40: Connor Bailey 12; Sam McGurk 4+ 2; Luke Harrison 7; Luke Crang 6 + 1; Ace Pijper 1 + 1; Elliot Kell2 7; Harry McGurk 3 + 2.
