Workington Comets salvage point but win eludes them

Workington Comets salvaged a point from another last heat decider at home to Edinburgh Monarchs last night.

But frustratingly the win eluded them again as the aggregate point went back over the border with the Scots visitors.

The Comets lost despite a brilliant six ride maximum from guest Nicolai Klindt, a hero of the treble-winning team from 2018.

But crucially only recent signing Drew Kemp managed to get into double figures as back-up as the Comets were desperately short of heat winners – Klindt apart.

Kemp (2), Tate Zischke (1) and returning reserve Niklas Holm Jakobsen (1) also took the chequered flag first, but they only managed seven heat advantages.

There were only three shared races, all in the second half of the meeting at heats 10, 12 and 13,

It had started well enough for the home side with a couple of 4-2s to get the meeting underway but the Monarchs responded with two 5’1s and they were never behind again in the meeting.

The Comets did pull level at 18-18 following a 4-2 in heat six but the Monarchs always just had the edge after that.

A 4-2 to Edinburgh in the penultima race left Workington four points adrift, and with the aggregate point well and truly gone, all the Comets could hope for was a draw from a 5-1 in the last.

Klindt and Kemp were sent out to do the business and despite the early efforts of Dan Thomson the home pair pulled away to register the maximum and salvage a point,

The key rider for Edinburgh was reserve Jordy Lofus, who was kept busy with seven rides as the Monarchs were also operating rider replacement for Paco Castagne.

He ran second behind Niklas Holm Jakobsen in the reserve races before going on to win the next and then collect three more seconds and a third, with only the one miss as a rider replacement in heat 11.

The Comets only had Jakobsen’s initial win, with Max Perry taking third, before the two Workington reserves picked up blanks in their ensuing outings.

The Comets must nurse their wounds until next weekend when they have a double header with Berwick Bandits – away on Saturday and at home on Sunday afternoon.

Workington Comets 45 (86)

1. Nicolai Klindt (G) – 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3  = 18 Max
2. Vinnie Foord – 1, 1, 1, 0   = 3
3. Drew Kemp – 1, 3, 1, 3, 2′  = 10+1
4. Tate Zischke – 0, 1, 3, 2  = 6
5. Troy Batchelor – 1, 1, 2′, 0  = 4 +1
6. Niklas Holm Jakobsen – 3, 0, 0, 0  =3
7. Max Perry – 1, 0, 0  = 1

Edinburgh Monarchs = 45 (94)

1. Dan Thompson – 0, 0, 1, 2  = 3
2. Paco Castagna R/R ( JG 2, JL 2, KT 3, JL 2  = 9)
3. Justin Sedgmen – 3, 2′, 2, 1′  = 8+2
4. Jonatan Grahn – 2, 2′, 3, 1′, 3, 0  = 11+2
5. Kye Thomson – 2′, 2, 3, 2, 1′, 1  = 11+2
6. Mitch Cluff – 0, 0, 0   = 0
7. Jordy Loftus – 2, 3, 2, 2′, 0, 2, 1  = 12+1
8. Lee Harrison – DNR