speedway By John Walsh

Last updated 11:12, Saturday, 11 October 2008

Workington Comets will face a Somerset side tonight hungry for success after a trophy-free season.

The Rebels were beaten by the Comets in the final of the Best Pairs, which was the start of a run of near misses.

They finished runners-up in the Premier League and earlier this week crashed out of the play-offs at the hands of the champions Edinburgh.

In addition they finished third (again behind Workington) in the Fours while top rider Jason Doyle was runner-up in the Premier League Riders Championship.

So no wonder team manager Steve Bishop says: “It would be a travesty if we came away from the season without a trophy, so all the team are really up for the cup final against Workington.

“Although our League form says we may be the favourites over two legs I don’t think you can read too much into previous results.

“I know it sounds a cliché but those League matches were then, and this is now!

“Team line-ups, riding orders etc will be different than when the two sides met in the League and both sides will start with a clean slate.”

Workington’s three Knockout Cup finals have been over 30 years apart - but tonight’s opponents are fast becoming the competition’s specialists.

Somerset Rebels, who ride the first leg at Derwent Park have also reached three KO Cup finals – but those have been in successive years.

So far it’s been heartbreak for the Rebels as they have lost on both occasions to the King’s Lynn Stars.

Both teams will be going into the final without their captain - Kauko Nieminen for Workington and Simon Walker for Somerset.

Nieminen, back home in Finland resting his broken collarbone, has sent his team-mates a good luck message ahead of tonight’s first leg.

“Of course I’m desperately sorry that I can’t be there, especially as I have such good memories of Somerset,” says Nieminen.

Workington 1, Jason Lyons; 2, Charles Wright; 3, rider replacement for Kauko Nieminen; 4, Joe Haines; 5, Carl Stonehewer; 6, Tomi Reima; 7, John Branney.

Somerset: 1, Jason Doyle; 2, rider replacement for Simon Walker; 3, Emil Kramer; 4, Stephan Katt; 5, Jordan Frampton; 6, Matthias Kroger; 7, Brent Werner.

• If the match is rained-off tonight it will be re-staged tomorrow at 4pm.