Workington Comets have given themselves half a chance in the Championship play-off semi-final after a gritty first leg at Poole.
The Pirates won 52-38, and with their powerful line-up, will be favourites to win on aggregate in Saturday’s second-leg showdown at Northside.
But after previous heavy defeats at Wimborne Road – 61-29 and 59-31 – this represented a significant improvement and makes the second leg decidedly more open than it might have been.
The Comets hung in with seven shared heats and they limited their hosts to just two 5-1s, and although they might have been a bit fortunate to earn a single heat advantage – an awarded 5-1 in the penultimate race – their dogged persistence was just what team manager James Denham was looking for.
“If you had said before the meeting that we would lose by 14 points I would have taken that. It does give us a chance in the second leg,” said Denham.
He had gone into the first leg with three guests for injured stars Craig Cook, Tate Zischke and Claus Vissing, and was particularly well served by Leon Flint who had three seconds and a win before running a last in heat fifteen.
His win came in heat 14 which was eventually awarded to the Comets as a 5-1. Flint had led and was entering the home straight ahead of the final lap when Zach Cook, who was pushing him hard, lifted and parted company with his bike.
It could have been nasty but fortunately the bouncing machinery didn’t make contact with anyone and Cook was soon up on his feet and walking back to the pits.
Paul Starke was given second place after Cook’s tumble and that completed another good night for the reserve as he finished top scorer with ten points and a bonus. He was never out of the points in his five rides, winning the reserves race, taking three seconds and a third.
Former Comet Richard Lawson, a born and bred west Cumbrian, scored a majestic five-ride maximum for the Pirates while Ben Cook earned a paid maximum.
Keeping the Poole lead to reasonable proportions was the main target on the night and the Comets certainly achieved that.
But Poole have been to Workington twice already and the best the Comets have done was a 45-45 draw on the last occasion.
The choice of guests is going to be crucial for the home leg and Denham will be giving great thought to who comes in.
Poole Pirates 52
Rochard Lawson 15; Sam Hagon 4; Ben Cook 13 + 2; Zach Cook 5; Tom Brennan 10; Tobias Thomsen 2 + 1; Vinnie Foord 3.
Workington Comets 38
Lewis Kerr 5 + 1; Jason Edwards 4 + 1; Antti Vuolas 4 + 2; Leon Flint 9; Troy Batchelor 6 + 1; Sam McGurk 0; Paul Starke 10 + 1.
