Workington Comets saw off the strong challenge of Redcar Bears to win their return match 47-43 at Northside.
But that wasn’t enough to earn them the aggregate point, which might prove crucial at the end of the season, as the Bears had won their home leg by 10 points.
It was a much-changed Comets septet with only three riders involved who started the season for the Workington side.
Chris Harris, Ace Pijper and Leon Flint were making temporary appearances while Paul Starke was making his home debut following his signing to replace Celina Liebermann.
Former Grand Prix rider Harris made his presence felt with three wins in his five rides as he finished with 12 points, and provided some of his trademark racing to excite the home fans.
Flint was solid, scoring points on every track visit, which included a win while Starke provided the Comets season’s best reserve haul of seven and two bonus points.
But it was the Comets’ own Finnish prospect Antti Vuolas who stole the show after a frustrating night on Friday at Redcar.
He had ran five thirds against the Bears first time round when when he could only manage third again in his first outing at Northside he must have thought – ‘here we go again.’
But he then went out and won his four remaining rides, the highlight being the last race of the day when he outgunned established riders Danny King, Chris Harris and ex-Comet Charles Wright in what was a cracking heat.
The Bears duo had gone into that last race needing a 5-1 to win the meeting, as well as the aggregate point, but Vuolas had other ideas and after a thrilling battle with King got his measure to take fourth heat straight heat win.
Apart from guest Pijper and reserve Sam McGurk, no Workington rider ran a last, yet they only managed two 5-1 heat advantages. However they had six 4-2s to help set up the win.
Workington Comets 47 (87)
Chris Harris 12; Ace Pijper 0; Antti Vuolas 13; Leon Flint 3, 1, 1, 2 = 7; Troy Batchelor 2, 1′, 2, 1 = 6+1; Sam McGurk 2; Paul Starke 7+2.
Redcar Bears 43 (93)
Charles Wright 8+1; James Pearson 5+1;Dan Gilkes 3; Jason Edwards 8; Danny King 10; Ben Trigger 4;. Jake Mulford 15.
