Tense weekend ahead for Workington Comets

Workington Comets need five points from this weekend’s double clash with Berwick Bandits to improve their play-off hopes.

The Bandits stage the first clash tonight at Shielfield with the return at Northside on Sunday afternoon (3pm).

Workington have brought in two guests who will cover both matches for the absent pair of Craig Cook and Tate Zischke.

Erik Riss, the German international and former Comet Simon Lambert have been booked.

Comets team boss James Denham knows how much is riding on these two back-to-back Championship fixtures.

“They are going to be two very tense matches this weekend for us but we have brought in two fantastic guests in Simon and Erik, who both go really well at Northside and Berwick. They will always give you one hundred percent and more.

“As long as the lads go out there and ride their heart out and leave nothing on the table, that’s all I can ask for and what will be, will be.

“At the end of the day, we just need to get the maximum amount of points available to us now and focus on ourselves. It doesn’t matter what other teams around us are doing, it is simply now about getting the most out of our remaining fixtures.”

Like the Comets week-end opponents Berwick have had some bad luck with injuries, especially when their reserve, who was really flying at the time, Bastian Borke was ruled out for the rest of the season with injury.

The Bandits have called on their former 2023 rider, Connor Coles for Saturday night at Shielfield and for Sunday at Northside they will bring in Edinburgh’s Lasse Fredriksen at seven.

Their skipper and experienced veteran Rory Schlein was also ruled out through injury and for both their line-ups this weekend, the Bandits will be operating rider replacement for Schlein at five on Saturday night. For Sunday it will see Schlein’s R/R move to their number three berth.

Berwick line-up – Saturday (A)