Magical Comets claw back first-leg deficit to reach final
Last updated 13:45, Monday, 29 September 2008
Workington Comets 53 Edinburgh Monarchs 39 (Agg: 94-88): Workington Comets have moved an important step closer to their own Holy Grail – a major speedway trophy contested by a full seven man team!
Never, in their broken history which started in 1970, have they lifted the League Championship, the Knockout Cup, the Premier Trophy or the Young Shield.
But this pulsating victory at Derwent Park on Saturday put the Comets into the final of the Knockout Cup where they will ride against Somerset Rebels, the league runners-up.
Workington are also regarded as favourites for the Young Shield, too, having finished fifth in the table and after selecting Scunthorpe as their first opponents at the week-end.
Saturday’s victory ended the Monarchs’ hopes of completing a League, Trophy and Knockout Cup treble but the way they grittily stayed in the contest at Derwent Park suggests they are worthy winners of Team of the Year.
With an eight-point lead from the home leg on Friday, Edinburgh were in touch throughout and they went into the final race of the night knowing that a 5-1 would take them through on aggregate.
In fact it was Workington, who went into the last heat just requiring a share of the spoils to book their place in the final, that collected the 5-1.
Kauko Nieminen and Tomas Topinka out-gated Ryan Fisher and Matthew Wethers and after that there was never much doubt as to whether the Comets were going to get through or not.
It was a perfect end for the Comets fans who had been treated to an exciting and entertaining meeting between two closely matched sides.
In the end Edinburgh didn’t get enough points at the top of the order (William Lawson 3); at the bottom (Aaron Summers 0) or from their programmed rider replacement facility (3).
It put a lot of work onto American star Ryan Fisher; battling skipper Derek Sneddon and the willing reserve Matthew Wethers.
By contrast Workington were solid throughout and even Charles Wright, who was forced to withdraw from the meeting with a chest injury and badly scraped back, was very unfortunate just to finish with only a single point.
He was on course for an important 5-1 with Tomas Topinka in heat six where Edinburgh had introduced Fisher on a tactical ride. Unfortunately he suffered mechanical problems at the end of lap three and Fisher was able to get through into second for four points. The resultant 5-3 was the first of four heat advantages to the Monarchs.
It was, in fact a battered and bruised Workington side for as well as losing Wright after three rides, they had been in serious danger of losing John Branney after he had been out twice.
In fact home skipper Nieminen collected a splendid paid maximum, and picked-up the J. Edgar and son Rider of the Night award, there was a school of thought that suggested reserve John Branney was the real hero on the night. Branney broke three vertebrae in his back two years ago and every so often that gives him a problem.
It happened on Saturday after he won the reserve race in his fastest ever time round Derwent Park and then produced a brave second place behind Fisher and ahead of team-mate Carl Stonehewer in heat four.
There were a few uncomfortable minutes with the doctor when it looked as though he would have to be withdrawn from the meeting. But he battled on, having three more rides which included precious second and third places.
When you consider he added seven points to the Workington total at Edinburgh on Friday there was even more evidence that it was his contribution which meant as much as any over the two legs.
With Nieminen racing to another paid maximum and guest Topinka, producing his usual smooth and polished performance, the Comets had plenty of points at the sharp end.
Joe Haines, Carl Stonehewer and Tomi Reima were solid, if not spectacular, and the all-round determination of all the team members against an equally gritty and enthusiastic Edinburgh outfit ensured a splendid speedway match.
But Edinburgh could point to some bad luck during the meeting – as inevitably Workington would have done after the clash at Armadale.
Fisher shed a chain at the start of heat seven, when he been last to reach the tapes. He was excluded on he time limit and went off 15 metres.
He actually caught Reima by the second turn but the Finn battled superbly to hold him off and stay third as Stonehewer raced away from Andrew Tully at the business end of the race.
Then in heat 14 with Edinburgh on a 4-2 which would have pulled it back to an eight point deficit and all square on aggregate, Tully came off and allowed Reima through for a shared heat.
It went to the last race, then, but with Nieminen and Topinka untouchable the home victory was assured.
Animated displays on the centre green by owner Keith Denham and team manager Ian Thomas at the conclusion of the last heat, with victory assured, showed how much it meant to them.
MATCH FACTS
Workington 53: Tomas Topinka 13; Charles Wright 1; Kauko Nieminen 14, Joe Haines 6, Carl Stonehewer 7, Tomi Reima 4, John Branney 8.
Edinburgh 39: William Lawson 3, Derek Sneddon 9, rider replacement for Thomas H Jonasson, Andrew Tully 6, Ryan Fisher 12, Matthew Wethers 9, Aaron Summers 0.
property
motors
jobs
date