By John Walsh

Last updated at 12:38, Friday, 29 July 2011

Redcar Bears 46 Workington Comets 44: Workington’s challenge for the Premier League title suffered another blow when they only picked-up a bonus point at Redcar last night.

Kenny Ingalls

A targeted three point win in a match the Comets led with three heats remaining juist wasn’t seen through – and again the injuries didn’t help the cause.

In fact, Workington finished the contest with doubts over Rusty Harrison and Tomas Topinka, as well as James Wright and Peter Kildemand who missed the match in any case.

Harrison has done well to ride as much as he has but is now seriously feeling the effects of the injury he suffered at Sheffield last Thursday while Topinka took a knock in the back, caused by Adam Roynon’s fall.

Team manager Tony Jackson said: “I’m as sick as a parrot as I’ve ever been. There’s no doubt we should have won this one if it hadn’t been for the riders we have who suffered knocks.

“We already had James (Wright) and Peter (Kildemand) missing and it’s far from certain we will have them back this week-end for tough matches against Glasgow and Newcastle.

“Tomas might be able to resume while Rusty is our main doubt. He has ridden for a week with knee problems and I think it’s now just got too much .

“I don’t think there’s any doubt that we would have won with a full team and in many ways I don’t think I’ve felt as disappointed as I do at the moment.”

In a closely-contested match there was never more than four points between the two teams and Workington were leading 37-35 with three heats to go.

The big let-down for Workington was the contribution of guest number one Kevin Doolan. He finished with two points and two bonus points, well below what was expected.

Jackson said: “I’m disappointed and he’s very disappointed. The last time he rode at Redcar he scored ten paid eleven which was as good round the track as anyone else who was available.

“There’s no doubt who was the star of the show, Kenny Ingalls, who was simply awesome. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Kenny ride as well for us.”

Actually Workington provided eight of the 15-heat winners and they were almost within touching distance of an important win.

But the Bears did enough, in the end, to hold onto their advantage, despite a bold bid by the Comets to salvage something out of it.

Workington have two big matches over the week-end, at home to Glasgow on Saturday and at Newcastle on Sunday.

“Those are massive matches for us now but the main problem is that I don’t know who we will have fit to ride. Remarkably we could be without our whole top four riders.” said Jackson.

REDCAR BEARS 46: Matej Kus 11+1, Gary Havelock 9+2, Adam Roynon 0, Jason Lyons 11+1, Aaron Summers 9, Peter Juul 3+1, Robert Branford 3+2

WORKINGTON COMETS 44: Kevin Doolan 2+2, Richard Lawson 9, Tomas Topinka 6+1, Rusty Harrison 6+1, Peter Kildemand R/R, Gary Irving 4, Kenny Ingalls 17

First published at 11:27, Friday, 29 July 2011
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk