Shock home defeat for Workington Comets

Workington Comets slipped to a shock 51-39 home defeat to in-form Glasgow Tigers.

The visitors had been impressive in a midweek win at Oxford and they followed up in style at Northside.

They rattled up 10 race wins but remarkably none by former Great Britain star Chris Harris.

He had to settle for four second places and a third, but reserve Freddy Hodder was the only other Glasgow

Leon Flint (11) and former Comet Kyle Howarth (9) both won three heats apiece.

It was slim pickings for the Comets with Jonas Jeppesen (two), Vinnie Foord, Tate Zischke and Troy Batchelor the only race winners.

In a power start from the Tigers they had raced a 29-13 lead after just seven races.

There was still 16 points between the two sides after nine races and the aggregate point had long disappeared.

Heats 10 and 11 did at least being 4-2 heat advantages but that was quickly negated in the 12^th race with a 5-1 for the Tigers.

Workington’s only heat maximum came in heat 13 via Jeppesen and Batchelor, before the sides swapped 4-2s over the last two races.

The last point of the meeting was claimed by Jeppesen when he pushed his bike home after Howarth had suffered a puncture lying second.

Overall it was a disappointing home defeat after recent performances at Northside.

Zischke (11), Jeppesen (9) and Batchelor (7) were the leading scorers on the day but new signing Drew Kemp had a nightmare debut.

It was summed up by his last ride, after scoring just one point in his three previous outings, his engine blew on the start line.

Reserve guest Jordy Loftus took a second in his first outing but couldn’t add to that while Max Perry finished with four points and a bonus.

Workington Comets 39 (81)

1. Jonas Jeppesen – R, 2, 3, 3, 1 = 9
2. Vinnie Foord – 1, 0, 3, 1 = 5
3. Drew Kemp – 0, 0, 1′, R = 1+1
4. Tate Zischke – 2, 1, 2, 1, 2, 3 = 11
5. Troy Batchelor – 1′, 1, 3, 2′ = 7+2
6. Jordy Loftus (G) – 2, 0, 0 = 2
7. Max Perry – 1′, 2, 0, 1 = 4+1

Glasgow Tigers 51 (99)

1. Chris Harris – 2′, 2′, 2, 1, 2 = 9+2
2. Sam Hagon – 3, 3, 1′, 0 = 7+1
3. Leon Flint – 3, 3, 2, 3 = 11
4. Kevin Juhl Pedersen – 1, 2′, 0, 3 = 6+1
5. Kyle Howarth – 3, 3, 3, 0, R = 9
6. Mario Hausl – 3, 1, 2, 2′ = 8+1
7. Freddy Hodder – 0, R, 0, 1 = 1