Workington Comets 49 (90) Newcastle Diamonds 41 (90): Workington Comets’ flying start to the season continued as they secured a precious point at in-form Glasgow after pulling back an eight-point deficit at home to Newcastle on Saturday to force a Knockout Cup replay.

The visitors only went behind in the 12th heat at Glasgow in an impressive performance and showed great spirit to rally and take a league point from Ashfield which could prove vital later in the season.

And although they made hard work of it, Comets won on Saturday night and clawed back the Diamonds’ eight-point lead to ensure their cup campaign will rumble on.

In truth they probably should have progressed, with bike problems and slight mistakes dropping points when Comets looked like pulling away from the visitors.

Comets gated on a 5-1 in opening heat yesterday’s opening heat and, although Aaron Summers and Dan Bewley got past Mason Campton, the Tigers No2 fell when he was forced wide and the race was awarded as an away 4-2 with Craig Cook the winner.

They followed it up with another in heat two, Matt Williamson winning ahead of Tom Perry and Rob Shuttleworth, before the hosts got a 4-2 of their own as Richard Lawson pipped Adam Roynon and Nike Lunna.

Richie Worrall won heat four at the third time of asking, with Thomas Jorgensen splitting him and Jack Smith as the scores were levelled.

Cook did it again in heat five, getting the better of ex-Comet Richard Lawson with Campton third for a 4-2 which nudged Workington ahead again.

No one was going to beat Summers in heat six but Williamson and Jorgensen kept him honest, before Roynon could only separate Worrall and Perry as the home side made it 21-21 with a 4-2.

Williamson was on top form as he notched another win in heat eight, with Campton almost making it a 5-1 until a late surge from Bewley, but the Tigers again pegged Workington back with a 4-2 thanks to Lawson and Lunna.

Summers was away for the win in heat 10 but Proctor tucked in behind him and Roynon kept Bewley at bay for a 3-3.

Cook was finally beaten by Worrall in heat 11 but Campton was third to ensure the hosts didn’t get a heat advantage.

Glasgow took the lead for the first time on the night in heat 12 as Lawson beat Proctor and Perry passed Williamson for a 4-2.

A stunning heat 13 saw Comets gate on a 5-1 but Summers swerved past both visitors to take the lead. Cook turned it on and the pair passed each other for the rest of the race with the Glasgow man holding on but Jorgensen clung on in third as only two points separated the sides with two races to go.

Lunna got a big win for the Tigers in the penultimate heat but strong rides from Roynon and Williamson earned a draw that meant Comets were guaranteed to take something from the meeting and were still capable of winning it.

It wasn’t to be as Cook again showed his class with a comfortable victory but the wily Worrall and Summers team-rode to keep Jorgensen out of the points and win the meeting.

Meanwhile, Saturday’s Knockout Cup thriller between Workington Comets and Newcastle Diamonds ended all square on aggregate to set up a home and away replay.

A 5-1 and a 4-2 from the opening two heats put Comets in a strong position, with six points taken out of the Diamonds’ first leg lead already.

But a pair of shared heats followed before Comets suffered a setback in heat five as the Diamonds earned a 5-1 to bump their aggregate lead back up to six points.

Worrall muscled Cook out at the start in heat six but the Comets captain caught him in spectacular fashion to snatch the lead and equal his fastest time of the season, while Campton was third for a 4-2.

Disaster then struck in heat seven as Jorgensen darted to the front but his bike failed him and, with Williamson at the back already, a 3-3 turned into an away 5-1 which sent Comets back to square one.

Campton made heat eight his own with a confident ride out front and Shuttleworth again reeled in Phillips to claw back two points in heat eight.

But a draw followed by a 4-2 for either side then another heat of shared points left progression looking like a big ask.

Cook rode like a man possessed in heat 13 then Jorgensen followed him through with a strong but fair move on Lambert. The Team GB star came back at him but Jorgensen stormed down the back straight to get the Comets faithful on their feet with a stunning 5-1 which gave the hosts hope with two races to go.

It was all or nothing with Comets needing a race-winner in heat 14 and Williamson pulled it out of the bag, while Roynon followed Lindgren for a 4-2 which was enough to level the scores on aggregate and set up a dramatic last-heat decider.

Cook again took control in heat 15 but with Jorgensen at the back, a 3-3 sent the tie to a replay.