Speedway

Last updated 10:00, Thursday, 01 May 2008

WORKINGTON Comets have one foot firmly planted in the second round of the Knockout Cup after an away win at Stoke.

Saturday’s first leg at Derwent Park was washed out but the Potters couldn’t take any home advantage on Sunday as Workington produced a barn-storming finish.

With just six heats remaining, the Comets were 10 points in arrears yet finished the match eight points to the good – a remarkable turnaround in fortunes.

The home leg will now be run on Bank Holiday Monday, May 26 when Stoke should have been visiting Derwent Park in the Premier League. That match will be rescheduled for a later date in the season.

At Loomer Road, Workington seemed to be going nowhere when Stoke’s Ben Barker and Klaus Jakobsen engineered a 4-2 to push the Potters into a 32-22 lead.

But inspired by skipper Kauko Nieminen and impeccable number one Daniel Nermark, the Comets fashioned an unlikely but nevertheless impressive victory from that low point.

Workington Comets 50 - Daniel Nermark 15; Scott Smith 0; Kauko Nieminen 16; Charles Wright 7; Carl Stonehewer 8; Joe Haines 1; John Branney 3.

Joe Haines just missed out on a place in the semi-final of the British Under-21s final at Lakeside on Friday.

Haines scored nine points in his five programmed rides and was just behind Steve Boxall (10) who was the final qualifier for the semi-final.

Charles Wright, Workington Comets’ other representative in the final on the Elite League track, was down the field with five points.

In the end, it was Haines’ first ride which proved costly for the 16-year-old Workington reserve.

He finished last behind one of the favourites Lewis Bridger, Adam Roynon and William Lawson.

But after that, he recovered well to win his other two races, while finishing third behind top points scorer Tai Woffinden and Ben Barker.

He was also second to another fancier rider Steve Boxall.

Haines beat his Workington team-mate Wright when they met in heat five.

Wright, who had started with a third place behind Woffinden and Boxall, also had another second behind Bridger but finished the meeting with two disappointing last places.

Woffinden and Bridger went automatically through to the final as top scorers whilst Roynon, Barker, Lawson and Boxall raced in the last chance semi-final with Haines just missing out.

Boxall fell in the semi-final as Roynon and Barker went through but there was drama in the final.

Bridger found himself excluded after he brought down Barker in trying to get round Woffinden, so the re-run was contested by just three riders.

Woffinden was always in charge despite a bold bid by Cumbrian rider Roynon, who hails from Barrow, with Barker in third place.

On Saturday night, Workington Comets entertain reigning League champions Rye House Rockets (7pm) and ride the return at Hoddesdon on Monday.