Workington Comets reach Young Shield final for second year running

By Paul Crute

Last updated at 12:29, Monday, 12 October 2009

Workington Comets reached the final of the Young Shield for the second consecutive year after a comfortable aggregate victory over Stoke at the weekend.

Adam Roynon

Workington drew 39-39 with the Potters on Saturday night, after the meeting was cut short by two heats due to floodlight failure, and then secured their place in the final with a 54-36 victory yesterday after a commanding second half display at Derwent Park, to give them a 93-78 aggregate win.

But Comets did not have it all their own way on Sunday and did not lead until heat 10 after Stoke gave the home fans a scare by leading for more than half the meeting.

The day did not start well for the Comets as Stoke took a heat maximum in the very first race with guests Mark Lemon and Justin Sedgmen failing to hold off the Stoke pairing of Jason Bunyan and Klaus Jakobsen.

Comets then hit back in the next heat recording a 4-2 after Craig Cook made a good gate and kept the lead while John Branney, who suffered a heavy crash on Saturday, took third after passing Tom P Madsen on the line after a great battle with the Dane.

Then a succession of six shared heats saw the Potters keep their slender two point advantage with Stoke and Workington taking three victories a piece.

Adrian Rymel and Lemon both showed their talent with great rides in heat five and six to take victories for the Comets and Compton did well to hold off former Sheffield team mate Lee Complin in heat seven.

Crowd favourite John Branney almost took a victory in heat eight after a good battle with Madsen and although he looked like he might get past him on the third bend of the last lap Madsen managed to hold him off.

From heat nine Comets took control of the match and won every heat up to the end of the match including three heat maximums.

Rymel took an easy win in heat nine to draw the scores level with John Branney coming third after pushing his bike over the line for the last couple of bends after falling trying to pass Robert Ksiezak for second place which drew a great roar from the crowd.

Then Comets got ahead for the first time in the match Lemon taking a victory and Sedgmen securing third for a 4-2 and 31-29 lead overall in heat 10.

A heat maximum then followed for the Comets, Compton and Branney controlling the re run after Stoke’s number one Jason Bunyan was excluded after a fall.

Rymel took victory in heat 12 after another re run, with Jesper Kristiansen falling and Branney taking third after injuring himself when he had to put his bike down to avoid hitting Kristiansen.

Lemon and Compton then secured another heat maximum for the Comets in heat 13, Compton taking second place after holding off a strong challenge from Bunyan.

That put Comets 12 points ahead so Stoke captain Lee Complin donned the black and white helmet as he took a tactical ride in a dramatic heat 14.

Complin gated ahead of Compton and the two were locked in a terrific battle for the four laps before Compton produced a terrific passing move on the third bend of the last lap going up the inside of the Stoke captain.

It ended up with Complin being thrown from his bike into the wall which caused a lengthy delay, while the ambulance had to be brought on to the track.

It meant Comets were already guaranteed a place in the final but they rounded off the meeting with another heat maximum Rymel flying round the outside of Ksiezak on the back straight and being followed home by Lemon to secure a commanding victory for the team.

WORKINGTON COMETS 54

1. Mark Lemon - 1,3,3,3,2* = 12+1

2. Juston Sedgmen - 0,1*,0,1*, 1 = 3+2

3.Adrian Rymel - 2,3,3,3,3 = 14

4. Rider replacement for Richard Lawson

5. Andre Compton - 2,3,3,2*,3 = 13+1

6. Craig Cook - 3,0,0,1 = 4

7. John Branney - 1,1*,2,1,2*,1 = 8+2

STOKE POTTERS 36

1. Jason Bunyan - 2*,2, fell,1,0 = 5+1

2. Klaus Jakobsen - 3,1*,0,1 = 5+1

3. Jesper Kristiansen - 0,1*,0, fell = 1+1