Workington Comets 55 Plymouth Devils 37: Workington Comets confidently brushed aside Plymouth in a 55-37 win despite only fielding six riders.

A captain’s performance from Ricky Wells saw him lead Comets to revenge over the Devils with a paid maximum after a heavy defeat on the south coast last weekend.

Rasmus Jensen was declared unfit after riding in Denmark the previous night but the rider replacement facility didn’t harm Comets’ chances as they romped to a win by 18 points.

Wells shot to the front in heat one, with Ben Barker stuck to his back wheel over the first few bends, while Matt Williamson slotted into third place. Wells’ win secured a 4-2 in the fastest time by a Comet at home this season.

Adam Roynon was clearly still brimming with confidence from his 15-point haul at Sheffield on Thursday as he burst past Carl Wilkinson and controlled the race from the front in heat two. Williamson struggled and couldn’t find a way past Ellis Perks in third as the points were shared.

Mason Campton and Kenneth Hansen gated on a 5-1 in heat three but Todd Kurtz quickly found his way to the front. Hansen looked itching to get at the leader but Campton was in his way and by the time he passed his teammate there was no track left to close on Kurtz.

Another strong start from Comets duo Claus Vissing and Williamson saw them lead for two laps, until Sam Simota swept around the outside of the youngster to leave Comets with a 4-2.

It was the visitors who sprinted away from the line in heat five, but Hansen cut up the inside of Barker and Newman and began to wind it on. Campton was stranded at the back and pulled up on the third lap, but his teammate was fully in control to secure the draw.

Wells got another flying start in heat six and Roynon reeled in Simota on the second bend to join him for a stylish 5-1.

Kus emerged out of a tightly packed first bend in the lead, with Roynon and Vissing in pursuit, for a draw which kept Comets eight points ahead.

Williamson started well in heat eight but Newman passed him and Hansen quickly followed through. A nail-biting contest saw Hansen come agonisingly close to snatching the place, while Wilkinson got the better of Williamson to earn the away side a 4-2.

Simota bullied his way to the front in heat nine, with Hansen tenacious as ever in his attempts to claw back the spot, but couldn’t catch the Devil. Campton kept Perks at bay to protect the draw as Comets tried to keep the meeting under control against a resurgent Plymouth.

A blistering start from Wells saw him get away comfortably in heat 10, while Roynon gave Kurtz a hard time behind him in a home 4-2.

Vissing opened the door on the first bend of heat 11 and Roynon bolted through it. After storming through the first lap, the Dane took the lead and team rode with Roynon who came out on top in a terrific back and forth battle with Barker for a home 5-1.

Kus took a tactical ride in heat 12 as a last throw of the dice for the visitors but couldn’t edge out Hansen, who rocketed around well clear of the pack while Williamson was at the back. The 5-2 reduced Comets lead to 10 points with three races to go.

Wells and Vissing delighted the crowd by seizing a 5-1 from the gate in heat 13, before Campton showed Kurtz and Perks how to ride Workington while Roynon had an off race and finished last.

The win had been sewn up already but Comets produced a crowd-pleasing 5-1 in the final heat anyway, Wells roaring away from the start before Vissing cut Plymouth in two to join him in the lead.

WORKINGTON COMETS 55: Ricky Wells 15, Kenneth Hansen 12, Claus Vissing 11+3, Adam Roynon 10+2, Mason Campton 5+2, Matt Williamson 2, Rasmus Jensen r/r

PLYMOUTH DEVILS 37: Todd Kurtz 8, Matej Kus 7, Ben Barker 6, Sam Simota 6, Carl Wilkinson 5+2, Kyle Newman 4+1, Ellis Perks 1+1

Premier League points: Workington 3 Plymouth 0