Workington Comets 50 Newcastle 42: A solid team performance earned Workington Comets a vital 50-42 League Cup win over Newcastle on Saturday.

All seven riders chipped in as Comets controlled the meeting from the beginning against a Diamonds side that has been tipped for big things this year.

Comets made a bright start in the sunshine as Ricky Wells and Rasmus Jensen powered to the front in the opening lap. Robert Lambert edged past the latter on the first bend of the second lap but bike trouble caused the Diamonds No1 to drop to the back, leaving Comets to cruise to a 5-1.

Heat two was rerun after movement at the start and youngster Matt Williamson produced a terrific ride ahead of Adam Roynon for a second 5-1, setting the fastest time of the season so far at Workington.

Richie Worrall rocketed into the lead in heat three with Hansen and Mason Campton giving chase. The Dane couldn’t make one of his trademark moves around the outside and the hosts had to settle for a draw.

Claus Vissing showed his spectacular starting last weekend was no one-off with a stylish win in heat four, but Steve Worrall pushed hard all the way. Williamson only needed to finish to take third as Danny Phillips fell but cleared the track.

Kenneth Hansen beat Lambert from the gate in heat five and Campton ducked inside the young rider on the first bend to move into second. The Diamond quickly regained the place but couldn’t close on Hansen as Comets secured another heat advantage to go 12 points clear of the visitors.

Steve Worrall couldn’t kick-start an away revival in the next heat despite a confident ride to the flag. Jensen and Wells piled on the pressure in the early stages

Vissing looked at ease in front in heat seven but Roynon struggled at the back as Ludvig Lindgren and Richie Worrall, who was on a tactical ride, combined for a Diamonds 5-3.

Lindgren stormed around in the lead in heat eight but Williamson and Jensen made sure of second and third place to maintain their lead.

Steve Worrall bolted away from the line in heat nine, but again the Comets pair Hansen and Campton defended the rest of the points places to share the points and make it 33-23.

Richie Worrall forced his way to the front in heat 10 and Lindgren followed him through on the backstraight. Jensen retired on the third lap before mechanical issues saw Lindgren drop to the back to limit Newcastle to a 4-2.

Heat 11 was rerun twice, first for movement at the line then an unsatisfactory start. The final run turned out to be a thriller as Vissing read Lambert’s every move to keep him at bay for the win, while Roynon finished third for a 4-2 to restore Workington’s lead to 12 points.

Richie Worrall continued his fine form with a win in heat 12, although Hansen tried to turn it on. Eventually he settled for second with Williamson behind him for yet another 3-3.

The crowd went wild as Vissing and Wells hit the front in heat 13, but the Diamonds hit back with Steve Worrall then Lambert springing past the Comets No1.

The 3-3 made sure of the meeting win for Comets but there was still much to play for in the final heats.

The Diamonds still had their sights on a League Cup point as Lindgren roared to his second race win in the penultimate heat. Campton tumbled on the second bend but cleared the track, leaving Roynon to battle around in second for a Newcastle 4-2 to set up a tense final heat.

A physical first bend saw Hansen muscle his way to the front and turn it on around the outside. Vissing was stranded in last place but his teammate was untouchable ahead of Steve and Richie Worrall to see his side home and deny the Diamonds any reward for their efforts.

WORKINGTON COMETS 50: Kenneth Hansen 12, Claus Vissing 12, Matt Williamson 7+1, Ricky Wells 7, Adam Roynon 5+1, Rasmus Jensen 4+3, Mason Campton 3+2.

NEWCASTLE DIAMONDS 42: Richie Worrall 14+1, Steve Worrall 12, Ludvig Lindgren 8+1, Robert Lambert 5+1, Lewis Rose 2, Danny Phillips 1, Tero Aarnio r/r.