After securing a precious aggregate point from Poole Pirates on Wednesday, Workington Comets return to home shale in the Cab Direct Championship tonight (6pm).
It was a long, but ultimately rewarding midweek trip, and the Comets go into this weekend’s meeting against visiting Redcar Bears in confident mood.
It was an excellent showing against the Pirates at Wimborne Road as they became the first team to take the aggregate point off the reigning champions and current table leaders.
Having put Poole to the sword at the GT Tyres Arena a fortnight ago, James Denham’s invigorated team went down 47-43 on the night in the return fixture to claim the aggregate point and earnand many plaudits for a battling display.
Jet-setting Fraser Bowes — who netted 14+1 in a heat leader berth in last Saturday’s home victory over Scunthorpe before heading off to the continent — continued his blistering form with a stunning 13-point haul in Dorset.
His Australian compatriots Jye Etheridge (12+2) and Jacob Hook (9+2) were the other standout performers as Comets laid down a marker.
Poole, the reigning league champions and current leaders, had only conceded two aggregate points since the bonus system began in 2023.
The Comets competed on Wednesday without in-form Aussie Tate Zischke, who had damaged his foot while competing in Poland and they lost Vinnie Foord on his old Poole stomping ground as he withdrew mid-meeting following an awkward fall, causing a nasty mouth injury.
However, on a positive note, Zischke has declared himself fit for tonight.
But Foord is still feeling the effects of the crash at Poole, and will make a decision on his fitness ahead of the meeting.
Nevertheless spirits in the camp are high ahead of the visit of Redcar, who travel to West Cumbria after hosting Poole at their ECCO Arena last night.
The Bears will ring the changes at Workington with two guest riders coming into their team — the Edinburgh Monarchs duo Paco Castagna and Jonatan Grahn.
Castagna comes in as guest for the absent Erik Riss – who is taking a break from racing due to ongoing health issues, while Grahn — who took a guest booking for the Comets against Plymouth Gladiators earlier in the season — steps in to replace Jake Mulford, who is on Team GB duty.
Redcar are skippered by an ex-Comet Charles Wright. The 36-year-old rubbed shoulders with the world’s best riders at the 2025 Manchester GP double-header at Belle Vue, filling a wild card slot having finished runner-up in the British final at the same venue.
Wright also celebrated a Championship Pairs win at Workington, with Erik Riss, at the start of this season.
Also in the Bears line-up on Saturday are heat leaders Jason Edwards and Danny King, along with reserves Jody Scott at six and, at seven, Ace Pijper, a member of the Comets 2023 National Development League team.
Redcar — who will bring a big travelling band of supporters to Workington — did the double over Comets earlier this season in the BSN Series.
Gavin Parr’s team won 51-39 at the ECCO Arena before triumphing 54-36 at the GT Tyres Arena.
However, they will be aiming to cure a bout of travel sickness having lost their last three Championship fixtures on the road: at Berwick Bandits, away to Edinburgh and then, last time out, on their trip to Glasgow Tigers.
The Comets, brimming with confidence, are looking to make it four wins in four Championship meetings at home.
Denham said: “We’re taking nothing for granted. They did a good job on us home and away earlier in the season. But I feel like we’re starting to find our groove now — we’re a completely different team to the one we were then.
“I still believe there’s more to come from us, and Wednesday night against Poole showed that.
“We came so close to the win on the night, but I think the bonus point was a fair reflection over the two legs.
“All the lads have been putting in big performances recently. Fraser and Jye have been steadily settling into their new surroundings, and since our short break from racing, it feels like things have really clicked for them.
“Tate looks back to his old self and is in great form with some big scores lately.
“Skipper Troy, delivered a near-perfect display last Saturday — showing exactly what he’s capable of.
“Jacob has also played a crucial role in recent meetings, getting amongst the points and mixing it with the best in the league.
“Tate will be back which is a big boost but Vinnie will make the late call on whether he is fit to ride as he was knocked about a bit.
“It’s also a bonus to have Antti back, we covered his rides exceptionally well last weekend, but he’s easily an 11 or 12-point man around Northside, and having him back is crucial.
“If we all carry this form into the meeting, we know what we’re capable of — and with the home crowd behind us, we’re confident we can get the job done.”
The meeting will be live on Comets TV at http://bit.ly/cometslive
