Berwick Bandits 59 Workington Comets 31: Workington Comets were humbled in a 59-31 defeat at Berwick as a nightmare first half left them with far too much to do.

It wasn’t the beginning Comets would have hoped for in front of the Sky Sports cameras as the Bandits triumphed in the third rerun of the opening heat, with guest David Bellego and Theo Pijper cruising ahead of Ricky Wells for a 5-1.

Mechanical problems saw Adam Roynon ride Claus Vissing’s bike in the second heat and his discomfort was obvious as he got off to a wild start behind Liam Carr and Daniel Gappmaier. The Comets duo couldn’t get near the hosts as they secured a second 5-1 in a row.

Former Comets Kevin Doolan and Matthew Wethers nailed the start in heat three and left Workington pair Kenneth Hansen and Rasmus Jensen behind for another 5-1.

Team manager Tony Jackson made his frustration clear to the TV cameras before heat four as he rued the problems which were hampering his side.

The Bandits made the start again in heat four but Vissing breezed past Carr and settled into second place to at least limit the Bandits to a 4-2.

Yet another disruption in heat five saw the race pulled back after Campton jumped the start.

Wethers was jet-propelled out of the start in the rerun but Wells kept him honest all the way with Doolan behind him to restrict the home side to a 4-2 as the meeting started to look ominous for Workington.

Comets’ torrid night continued as Roynon’s bike packed up again before heat six and Vissing donned the black and white helmet to try and claw his side back into it on a tactical ride.

There was yet another rerun after the Dane was pulled back for jumping the start and Comets’ night began to descend into farce as Roynon’s engine gave in from the start while Vissing struggled round in third.

Jorgensen and Gappmaier heaped more misery on the west Cumbrians with a 5-1 in heat seven, before Campton produced a magnificent ride to salvage a draw in heat eight.

Vissing made a great start in heat nine but was pegged back by Doolan, only to snatch the place back while a mistake from Wethers allowed Roynon in to secure the visitors’ first heat advantage.

Bellego got away from the tapes well in heat 10 but Jensen and Hansen slotted in behind him to share the points.

Campton then continued his resurgence with a storming win in heat 11 but Wells couldn’t hold on to second behind him as Jorgensen pipped him to make it a Workington 4-2.

Only pride was on the line with four heats to go and a decent ride from Hansen saw him split Doolan and Carr in a home 4-2.

Wells was again penalised for a start as all four riders were called back in heat 13 but the American nailed the rerun with a stylish win while Vissing trailed at the back in a 3-3.

The hosts hit back with a sixth 5-1 in heat 14 before Wells and Campton were given the nod in the final heat.

Jorgensen charged away in the lead while a nerve-jangling battle between Wells and Bellego saw the Comets skipper come out on top to end the night on a Berwick 4-2.

BERWICK BANDITS 59: Thomas Jorgensen 13, David Bellego 11+1, Kevin Doolan 9, Matt Wethers 8+1, Liam Carr 7, Dany Gappmaier 6+3, Theo Pijper 5+3

WORKINGTON COMETS 31: Ricky Wells 9, Mason Campton 6, Claus Vissing 6, Kenneth Hansen 5+1, Rasmus Jensen 3, Adam Roynon 2, Matt Williamson 0