Tony Jackson reports from Derwent Park

Last updated 12:19, Monday, 01 September 2008

Workington Comets 59 Glasgow Tigers 36: Five days after going down to a surprise home defeat at the hands of the Berwick Bandits the Workington Comets bounced back to form to comprehensively see off the challenge of the Glasgow Tigers and so keep their hopes of a top-four play-off berth very much alive.

Kicking up the dust: Workington's Carl Stonehewer, red helmet, leading the Glasgow pairing of Shane Parker,green, and the partly hidden Josh Grajczonek, yellow, with Workington's Charles Wright, blue, at the rear, as they enter the first corner of heat seven during Saturday evening's Premier League clash at Derwent Park

A solid team performance saw the Comets provide the first across the finish line in all but two of the fifteen heats, with every one of the Workington side collecting at least one race win.

However, the racing was on many occasions far closer than the score suggests, with the home riders having to fight their way from the back on several occasions.

A catalyst for the success was the return to action of number one rider Daniel Nermark following a five-week lay-off through injury as a result of his horror crash at Redcar on July 24. This allowed the Comets to track a full-strength side of their own for the first time since their visit to Birmingham back on June 11, and not have to rely on the lottery of using guest riders.

Nermark got his comeback off to a perfect start by leading the opening heat from tape to flag, and with Tomi Reima tucked in behind him the Comets took maximum points. A similar all the way success from Charles Wright in the next also became a heat advantage when John Branney cunningly eased Glasgow’s Mitchell Davey off the inside line as they entered turn one for the final time in order to take third place.

Joe Haines, in his last Comets match as a 16-year-old, led Glasgow’s Shane Parker throughout in the third heat while skipper Kauko Nieminen pressed Parker all the way without being able to find a way through.

The Tigers looked as if they may claim their first race win of the night in heat four as their fast-starting Australian reserve Josh Grajczonek led for three laps before Carl Stonehewer rounded him in vintage fashion as they began the final lap. And, with Branney holding off Glasgow’s Trent Leverington, the Comets claimed yet another heat advantage.

Nieminen made a superb start from gate two in the next to lead all the way and take victory in the fastest time of the night while Haines chased second placed Robert Ksiezak throughout. Meanwhile, at the back, Glasgow’s Lee Dicken retired after three laps and having seen the track doctor was withdrawn from the meeting having aggravated a hand injury.

The sixth heat saw the productive Nermark-Reima partnership combine to record another maximum heat advantage, with Reima taking the chequered flag on that occasion, before the Tigers were able to share the points for the first time when Grajczonek and Parker followed Stonehewer home in the next.

However, with the Comets 29-13 ahead the Tigers then introduced Parker as a tactical substitute from a 15-metre handicap in heat eight, which provided arguably the race of the night.

From the gate Grajczonek led Branney around the first two turns, with Reima in third place.

But, with Reima dropping out with engine problems at the end of the opening lap Parker then had a clear run on the Comets reserve.

However, not only did Branney hold off the attentions of Parker but, on the back straight of lap three, he somehow squeezed past Grajczonek, touching handlebars in the process and causing both riders to momentarily lose control.

With Branney in front Grajczonek then allowed Parker through to increase their points total and, despite Parker gaining on Branney, the Comet held on to claim a well-deserved victory.

The Comets took another heat advantage in the next as Nieminen became the only rider to win a heat from gate four while Haines pressed second placed Leverington throughout. But, the tenth saw the Tigers finally claim their first race winner as Parker stormed from the gate to lead, as the Nermark-Reima partnership was headed for the first time.

Then, with the deficit at 16 points, the Tigers management nominated Ksiezak for a tactical ride in the next.

However for over three laps, despite Ksiezak pressing him, Stonehewer looked on course to claim his third race win of the night until on the last lap the Tiger took a wide line on turns one and two and, having got his wheels in line, stormed past the Comet as they exited turn two to hit the front and claim six points.

But, there were to be no more race wins for the visitors as Nieminen won the twelfth heat, with Branney again doing well to hold off Parker, while Nermark won a shared heat 13 as Leverington took Stoney very wide on the first turn to effectively end his challenge.

The Comets then rounded off the evening by taking maximum points from the final two heats.

The penultimate heat saw Haines and Wright in control as they exited turn two on the opening lap, with Haines taking the flag despite a catching chain causing a visible trail of sparks to be emitted from his machine for two laps. Then, heat 15 produced some thrilling action as Ksiezak rounded the home pairing of Nermark and Nieminen as they entered the back straight for the first time and seemed set for victory.

But, his lead was short-lived as both Nermark and Nieminen had passed him on the home straight by the time the second lap was underway, with Nermark taking the flag as he completed his comeback meeting in style.

Afterwards the Comets captain Kauko Nieminen said:“After Monday’s defeat by Berwick it was a much better team performance with everyone playing their part. And, to have Daniel back made us stronger at the top end, which is always better than having to use guest riders.

“There was some good racing and plenty of passingt. I think the track was the best it has been all season and it was a good match to be a part of. Hopefully, we can win our remaining matches and qualify for the top-four play-offs.”

MATCH FACTS

Workington 59: Nermark 12; Reima 7; Nieminen 12; Haines 8; Stonehewer 8; Wright 6; Branney 6
Glasgow 36: Ksiezak 12; Dicken 0; Parker 10; Andersen 0; Leverington 4; Davey 2; Grajczonek 8