Published at 12:50, Friday, 20 July 2012

Workington Comets face a crucial weekend of action as they race three matches in as many days.

Tony Jackson

They take on Edinburgh at Armadale tonight before travelling to Berwick on Saturday, both Premier League fixtures, before they return to Derwent Park on Sunday for the first leg of the quarter final of the Knock Out Cup against Leicester.

Team manager Tony Jackson believes the Comets should look to be taking points from both their away fixtures this weekend.

The last time Comets lost a match was April 20 at Edinburgh – exactly three months ago.

Jackson said: “We owe Edinburgh one after we lost to them last time so we will be determined not to be beaten.

“We have a full team and we hope to carry on our good form.”

Following the Edinburgh match Workington then travel south for the match against Berwick on Saturday.

The Bandits have made changes to their line up by bringing in Robin Aspegren and Liam Carr in place of Lubos Tomicek and injured Alex Edberg.

Jackson added: “Berwick have lost their last two matches but have changed their team.

“They won the Fours at the weekend so they will be parading that around which might have given them some confidence so we will want to take them down a peg or two.

“They should be two good matches and ideally we would like to win both but I will be disappointed if we don’t take at least something from them.”

To complete the weekend Comets return to Derwent Park on Sunday to take on Leicester in the Knock Out Cup beginning at 7pm.

The original first leg at Beaumont Park fell victim to the weather so Workington will be trying to build up as big a lead as possible for the rearranged second leg.

No dates have been confirmed although Jackson believed it would be sometime around mid-August.

The Leicester match will also see the return of former captain Kauko Nieminen who was a big crowd favourite at Derwent Park during his time with Comets.

Jackson added: “It will be nice to welcome back Kauko as long as he doesn’t score too many points against us.”

The Comets junior side, Workington Moss Bay Metals Meteors, also have two matches this weekend which will take place after the main matches with Edinburgh and Berwick.

The team will feature Tommy Fenwick, James Cartmel, from Cleator Moor and Dearham’s Jay Atkinson, who has recovered from a serious crash at Derwent Park last week when his exhaust fell off during the Meteors match with Edinburgh Kings.

• Ex-Comet Rusty Harrison has been banned for 12 months by the British Speedway Promoters Association Management Committee.

Workington Comets owner Keith Denham has moved quickly to quell any allegations that he was involved in Harrison being banned.

He said: “I have learned that Rusty was subject to a BSPA management meeting hearing at Rugby on Wednesday, which I had no knowledge of and can categorically state had absolutely no involvement in the meeting, process, or the final decision.

“The BSPA management committee took the view that as this was the second time Rusty has walked out on a team that he was contractually obliged to it should be treated as a serious breach of contract and found it necessary to impose the harsh penalty they did.

“Any allegations that I had any involvement in the length of the punishment are totally without foundation.

“And it would, in fact, have been better financially for the club and me had Rusty been allowed to ride again this season as the loan fee the Comets paid to Birmingham could have been reclaimed.”

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk