Redcar Bears 43 Workington Comets 47: Workington Comets triumphed 47-43 over a plucky Redcar side on a tricky track, whose slick surface threatened upset, to clinch their first away win of the year.

Comets’ League Cup progression now rests in Newcastle’s hands, with the Diamonds yet to race Redcar home or away.

Ricky Wells and Rasmus Jensen got Comets off to the best possible start with a 5-1 ahead of Jacob Bukhave and Lasse Bjerre, who retired while third. 

They followed that up with a 4-2 courtesy of Matt Williamson and Adam Roynon, with former Comet Simon Nielsen between the pair.

Redcar stemmed the flow with a 4-2 of their own in heat three, Jonas B Andersen pipping Mason Campton to the flag while Hugh Skidmore kept Kenneth Hansen at bay.

Claus Vissing and Williamson gated on another 5-1 in heat four but a spectacular sweep around the outside from David Bellego spoiled the party for a 3-3.

Andersen produced a smart ride to beat Jensen and Wells for another draw in heat five, before a woeful heat six saw both Comets fall with Roynon remounting to tail the Bears duo in a home 5-1.

The points were shared again in heat seven, with Bellego passing Hansen while Campton finished third to make it 21-21.

Jensen continued his strong performance with a win in heat eight, but Williamson couldn’t find a way past Payne or Bukhave in yet another stalemate.

Comets’ night got worse in heat nine, Andersen notching his third win in as many races while Skidmore beat Roynon and Vissing fell.

Hansen looked to have secured a 4-2 in heat 10 until Bjerre capitalised as he drifted wide, while Campton followed them in a 3-3. Bellego split the in-form Jensen and Wells in heat 11 as Comets cut the hosts’ lead to two points with a 4-2.

And a 5-1 in heat 12 finally saw Comets regain the lead, Roynon and Hansen powering around from the gate to make it 37-35 to Workington with three heats to go.

Bellego was excluded for a fall in heat 13 and Comets took advantage with a 4-2, Vissing at the front while Bjerre edged past Wells with metres to go. Redcar made it interesting with Andersen notching a fourth win of the night ahead of Campton.

Payne slipped past Roynon with an aggressive move but the result stood to make it 43-41 to Comets with one heat left.

Comets needn’t have worried as Wells produced a captain’s ride in heat 15 to secure the win, Jensen passing the previously unbeaten Andersen to take third in a 4-2.

REDCAR BEARS 43: Jonas B. Andersen 12, David Bellego 10, Lasse Bjerre 8, Jacob Buckhave 4+2, Lee Payne 4, Hugh Skidmore 3+1, Simon Nielsen 2

WORKINGTON COMETS 47: Rasmus Jensen 11+1, Ricky Wells 9+1, Mason Campton 6+2, Kenneth Hansen 6+1, Adam Roynon 6, Claus Vissing 5, Matt Williamson 4+1

Premier League points: Redcar 0 Workington 3