PIRATES WIN BUT COMETS MAKE THEIR POINT

POOLE extended their lead at the top of the Cab Direct Championship with a win over Workington – but the Comets became the first team to take an aggregate point against the Pirates this season.

The league leaders were held to a 47-43 scoreline, being taken down to a last-heat decider where a 5-1 to the visitors would have set up a Super Heat.

Richard Lawson secured the victory by winning the race, although team-mate Lewis Kerr was kept at the back by Fraser Bowes and Jye Etheridge.

It was more than enough for the Comets to return to Cumbria with a point having won the reverse fixture 51-39, despite the absence of Tate Zischke with a foot injury and Vinnie Foord being withdrawn after a Heat 8 crash with Tobias Thomsen.

Lawson scored 13 for the Pirates with Kerr on 11, dropping just one point before Heat 15, whilst Bowes impressed again for the Comets with 13 and Jye Etheridge racked up 12+2.

Kerr said: “It was good. A bit frustrating for me in the last two, especially Heat 15 as I messed up the start and that was that one gone, but hopefully I will get another one.”

Comets boss James Denham said: “This was a fantastic result with a patched-up team. Losing Tate on the eve of the meeting was always going to be tough, but we covered his rides brilliantly.

“Also losing Vinnie after his second ride was a blow, he’s bit his tongue in the crash and had quite the grisly wound to it but luckily that’s his only injury from a nasty crash.

“Fraser, Jacob (Hook) and Jye rode their socks off, but in fairness they all dug deep and I feel we could have won the meeting with a bit more luck, but more importantly the team spirit was unbelievable throughout which is key.

“The boys are really making things happen now and I feel the aggregate point is what we deserved over the two legs.”

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Photo credit: TONY HARTMAN