Published at 11:05, Monday, 20 August 2012

Leicester Lions 40 Workington Comets 50 (agg 76-104): Workington Comets earned their place in the semi-final of the Knockout Cup with a big aggregate win over the Lions.

Richard Lawson

Already with a handsome 18-point lead from the home leg, Workington completed the double by winning the return for a final aggregate of 104-76.

Team manager Tony Jackson said: “We went there totally focused on winning the match and we did that for a very comfortable victory.

“It was a very good team performance and I think the way that Adam Roynon and Richard Lawson earned their 5-1 in the last was a particular highlight. The team rode to perfection to wrap up the win on the night.

“We were only briefly two points behind so to keep them at bay and already have 18 points in hand from the first leg, was a good night’s work. Everybody came away in one piece and now we can relax as a team until we ride again on August 31.

“Rene Bach and Richard will be representing us in the Premier League Pairs on Friday ahead of the British Grand Prix and I am sure they will give a very good account of themselves.”

In the semi-final Workington will take-on Newcastle Diamonds, the current Premier League leaders but no dates have been announced for the two legs.

The night had started badly for former Comets favourite Kauko Nieminen when he suffered a time exclusion in heat one. Worse was to follow for the Lions when Jari Makinen fell and was excluded and in the second re-run, Tero Aarnio and Richard Lawson rode to a 5-1 over Jan Graversen.

Workington’s reserve guest Kyle Newman also made a disappointing start, tipping over in the reserve race. Graversen won the re-run from Ashley Morris with Lewis Blackbird taking the last point.

The Lions were on a 5-1 in the third until Lasse Bjerre made a mistake, allowing Bach in for second place but the 4-2 put them level.

Adam Roynon won the next impressively but the points were shared as Newman suffered mechanical problems at the back.

Workington skipper Lawson made the gate in heat five to blast clear but team-mate Aarnio was out of the points so the scores stayed level.

The Comets went back in front when Roynon beat Nieminen in the next and Morris battled his way into third.

However a 5-1 in heat seven from Graversen and Magnus Karlsson over Bach put the Lions in front for the only time in the contest.

It was reserves Newman and Morris who put Workington back in front with a 5-1 in heat eight. Morris had been drafted in when Aarnio suffered a tapes exclusion.

The sides swapped 4-2 heat victories and then a couple of shared races left Workington well poised and heading for the semi-finals with a two point lead to go with their considerable home leg advantage.

Roynon and Lawson were in control from the gate in heat 13 for another 5-1 and the penultimate race was awarded as a 3-3 after Graversen fell.

It just remained for Roynon and Lawson to demonstrate their class in heat 15 and the Comets were well and truly through to the semi-finals.

LEICESTER LIONS 40: Linus Eklof 10+1, Lasse Bjerre 8, Magnus Karlsson 7+1, Jan Graversen 7, Kauko Nieminen 5, Lewis Blackbird 3+1, Jari Makinen 0

WORKINGTON COMETS 50: Adam Roynon 14, Richard Lawson 10+4, Rene Bach 8, Tero Aarnio 7, Ashley Morris 6+2, Kyle Newman 5+1, Kenny Ingalls r/r

• On Saturday, Workington Comets beat Ipswich at Derwent Park to move into third spot in the Premier League, just four points behind leaders Somerset but with two matches in hand.

They are separated by Newcastle, who are two points better off than Workington and have a meeting in hand over the west Cumbrians.

WORKINGTON COMETS 48: Rene Bach 15, Richard Lawson 13+1, Tero Aarnio 7+1, Adam Roynon 5, Mason Campton 5, Ashley Morris 3+1, Kenny Ingalls r/r

IPSWICH WITCHES 41: Morten Risager 12+2, Rohan Tungate 11, Leigh Lanham 7+2, Dakota North 7+1, Matt Tresarrieu 3+1, Stefan Nielsen 1+1, Taylor Poole 0

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