Workington Comets skipper Craig Cook made a stunning debut for Oxford Spires last night in the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership.
Hosts and League champions Sheffield won 49-41 but the former British Champion racked up 16 points from six rides at reserve, including a Heat 15 victory over Jack Holder and Tai Woffinden.
However, a 3-3 from that race was enough for the Tigers to secure the aggregate point as the home duo got the better of Rohan Tungate.
Woffinden led the way for the hosts with 12+1 whilst both Jack (11+2) and Chris (10) Holder were in double figures, and Tungate picked up ten for the visitors.
Sheffield boss Simon Stead, a former Workington favourite, said: “It did feel like we’d got it under control, but when they’ve got somebody like Craig going so well who they could essentially put in anywhere they wanted, that made it quite difficult to manage.
“So the fact that Craig has done what he’s done and we’ve still managed to come out on top and get the aggregate bonus point was everything that we needed.
“We knuckled down and with their strength in depth I thought everyone did their bit, and like I say it’s great that we’ve come out on top.”
It was the start of three meetings in three days for west Cumbrian Cook as he’s back for the Comets tonight at one of his former tracks, Glasgow, and then at Northside tomorrow against Redcar Bears,
For the meeting the Tigers have to bring in guests at reserve with Freddy Hodder and Jack Smith standing in for ex-Comet Ace Pijper (injured) and Lee Complin (suspended), having seen their Cup hopes dashed at Oxford on Wednesday.
Meanwhile Antti Vuolas is ruled out for the Comets with concussion, and Dan Thompson comes in to guest.
Cook should enjoy racing at his former track while the Comets also ex-Tiger Claus Vissing who guested last month for them and scored heavily.
Meanwhile Saturday’s opponents Redcar are also involved in speedway action tonight when they meet Scunthorpe at the ECCO Arena tonight in their first Cab Direct Championship outings.
Erik Riss comes in for the home side as a guest for the injured Danny King, whilst the Scorpions track Ashton Boughen at reserve with Nathan Ablitt still sidelined.
Redcar manager Gavin Parr said: “After the Workington performance, I’m hoping we can carry that performance forward against Scunthorpe.
“Several of our riders have gained huge amounts of confidence from the match against the Comets, which can only bode well for us.”
