Workington Comets suffered a setback to their play-off hopes when they lost 54-36 at Scunthorpe last night.
It also meant that the Scorpions took the aggregate point to strengthen their own position in the top four.
Skipper Craig Cook was Workington’s main man again as he collected 13 points for his efforts after the night had started badly for him in the opening heat when he retired with mechanical issues.
But after that he rattled-off three straight wins, including one as a tactical substitute; had to settle for third in heat thirteen before bouncing back to win the last.
Without Cook, though, it would have been tough because Claus Vissing was the only Workington rider to win a heat, which meant it was an up-hill battle to hold onto the 12 points they had in hand from the Northside leg.
Although they twice fought back to reduce the Scunthorpe lead, and had it back on level terms on aggregate going into heat 12, the Scorpions reeled off 4-2, 5-1 and 4-2 race advantages to wrap-up the extra point.
It was small consolation for the Comets that they won the last race 4-2 through Cook and Troy Batchelor when they were up against two former Workington riders in Kyle Howarth and Simon Lambert.
Jason Edwards, from Redcar Bears, was Workington’s guest for the injured Tate Zischke and he scored points in every race – two seconds and two thirds – while Batchelor also collected six points but he had a bonus point to show for his five rides, one of which was a retirement.
Apart from his win, Vissing only managed a second place in his other three rides while Antti Vuolas only manager three third until his last race when he finished second.
Apart from Vissing, who twice finished last, and retirements for Cook and Batchelor the top five were generally among the points but reserves Sam McGurk and Celina Liebmann struggled to come to terms with the track and between them mustered just a single point.
Ex-Comet Kyle Howarth, who scored 11 and a bonus point from his five rides, will be guesting for Workington this afternoon against Poole, favourites to finish top of the Championship ahead of the play-offs.
It really will be a battle to win the two points for a home win as the Comets lost 61-29 back in May and earning the aggregate point would seem a very tall order against a good Pirates team.
Scunthorpe Scorpions 54 (93)Michael Palm Toft 12; Simon Lambert 8+2; Jake Allen 9; Connor Mountain 5+1; Kyle Howarth 11+1; Nathan Ablitt 4;
Luke Harrison 5+1.
Workington Comets 36 (87) Craig Cook 13; Jason Edwards 6; Antti Vuolas 5; Claus Vissing 5; Troy Batchelor 6; Celina Liebmann 0; Sam McGurk 1.
