Workington Comets 53 Berwick Bandits 40

Workington Comets rediscovered their mojo with a convincing 53-40 win against struggling Berwick.

After a disheartening draw against Redcar in their last home meeting, Comets needed to lay down a marker against the Bandits and they duly did so, only allowing the visitors three heat advantages to win at a canter.

Jye Etheridge got a great start from the inside gate in heat one but couldn’t hold up Craig Cook for long, as the Comets captain made it look easy for the win, while Mason Campton wound up at the back for a frustrating 3-3 for the home side.

Matt Williamson looked a class apart at the front in heat two but Dany Gappmaier and Lee Payne managed to shut out Rob Shuttleworth until Gappmaier fell to hand Workington a 4-2.

The Bandits duo darted for the inside in heat three, so Ty Proctor wound it on around the outside to win in style, but new boy James Sarjeant couldn’t quite get the start he wanted in Comets colours as he was just beaten to the flag by former Comet Kevin Doolan.

Thomas Jorgensen was a comfortable victor in heat four but Shuttleworth couldn’t find a pass on Gappmaier and Payne for another draw which suggested the meeting might not be the walkover it looked like from the league table.

Proctor gated and looked to be clear but Nick Morris muscled his way past his team-mate and caught his man on the final lap, seeing off his attempt to get him back to grab the visitors’ first heat advantage of the night and level the scores.

The rain didn’t dampen Comets’ spirits as they bounced back with Campton and Cook combining for a crowd-pleasing 5-1 in heat six.

Jorgensen again bolted and shrugged off the competition for his second win in heat seven but Shuttleworth was off the pace to finish last for a 3-3.

Comets needed a big result to dent the Bandits’ confidence and they got it as Campton seized the initiative to win and Williamson clawed his way past Jye Etheridge for another impressive 5-1.

Berwick new boy David Howe clearly had a point to prove as he charged to the front in heat nine but Proctor spoiled his party with a smart pass to win, while Sarjeant scored his first point in blue and white ahead of Gappmaier.

Heat 10 was all about the blossoming Campton-Cook partnership as the pair expertly saw out a 5-1 ahead of the experienced Howe and Doolan to stretch Comets’ lead to a healthy 14 points.

It was now or never for the Bandits in heat 11 as Morris donned the black-and-white helmet and the Bandit produced the goods with a lightning gate and strong defensive ride to keep his nose in front of Jorgensen and Williamson for a 6-3 which chipped away at Comets’ lead but still left them comfortably ahead.

Williamson and Proctor continued their scintillating form with yet another Comets 5-1 in heat 12 which ensured the hosts would take all three precious league points.

But, with Berwick still within reach of a consolation league point, Comets needed to keep their foot on the gas.

A rare bike problem for Cook saw him retire while leading heat 13 and the resulting evasive action allowed Morris to build an unassailable lead over Jorgensen which reduced Workington’s lead.

Doolan was a man on a mission as he won heat 14 from the gate but Williamson and Sarjeant looked happy to see out the draw which ruled out any chance of a point for the away side.

Morris looked untouchable after a superb start in the final heat and just about held on, despite Cook and Jorgensen buzzing around him for most of the race for a 3-3.

Workington Comets 53

1. Craig Cook – 3, 2*, 3, R, 2 = 10+1

2. Mason Campton – 0, 3, 3, 2* = 8+1

3. Ty Proctor – 3, 2, 3, 2* = 10+1

4. James Sarjeant – 0, 0, 1, 1* = 2+1

5. Thomas Jorgensen – 3, 3, 2, 2, 1* = 11+1

6. Matt Williamson – 3, 2*, 1*, 3, 2 = 11+2

7. Rob Shuttleworth – 1, 0, 0 = 1

Berwick Bandits 40

1. Nick Morris – 1*, 3, 6^, 3, 3 = 16+1

2. Jye Etheridge – 2, 1, 0, 1, 0 = 4

3. David Howe – 2, 2, 2, 1, 1 = 8

4. Kevin Doolan – 1*, 1*, 0, 3, 0 = 5+2

5. Lewis Bridger R/R

6. Dany Gappmaier – F, 2, 1, 0, 0, 0 = 3

7. Lee Payne – 2, 1*, 0, 1 = 4+1

8. James Hitchen

HEAT BY HEAT

HEAT 1 – Cook, Etheridge, Morris, Campton – 62.9, 3-3

HEAT 2 – Williamson, Payne, Shuttleworth, Gappmaier (fell) – 64.4, 4-2, 7-5

HEAT 3 – Proctor, Howe, Doolan, Sarjeant – 64.5, 3-3, 10-8

HEAT 4 – Jorgensen, Gappmaier, Payne, Shuttleworth – 64.9, 3-3, 13-11

HEAT 5 – Morris, Proctor, Etheridge, Sarjeant – 64.6, 2-4, 15-15

HEAT 6 – Campton, Cook, Gappmaier, Etheridge – 65.6, 5-1, 20-16

HEAT 7 – Jorgensen, Howe, Doolan, Shuttleworth – 64.9, 3-3, 23-19

HEAT 8 – Campton, Williamson, Etheridge, Payne – 65.7, 5-1, 28-20

HEAT 9 – Proctor, Howe, Sarjeant, Gappmaier – 65.4, 4-2, 32-22

HEAT 10 – Cook, Campton, Howe, Doolan – 64.7, 5-1, 37-23

HEAT 11 – Morris (tactical ride), Jorgensen, Williamson, Etheridge – 64.1, 3-6, 40-29

HEAT 12 – Williamson, Proctor, Howe, Gappmaier – 65.6, 5-1, 45-30

HEAT 13 – Morris, Jorgensen, Payne, Cook (retired) – 65, 2-4, 47-34

HEAT 14 – Doolan, Williamson, Sarjeant, Gappmaier – 65.8, 3-3, 50-37

HEAT 15 – Morris, Cook, Jorgensen, Doolan – 65.3, 3-3, 53-40