Last updated at 11:49, Friday, 17 August 2012

Sheffield Tigers 51 Workington Comets 42: Workington Comets missed-out on a bonus point after a brave bid to defy their injury problems at Owlerton.

Adam Roynon

They were always in touch but just let it slip away in the closing heats and could not repeat their victory of earlier in the season.

Team manager Tony Jackson said: “Under the circumstances it was a good effort but Owlerton is a quick track and you need to gate.

“We just weren’t getting out of the start all night and you can’t afford to do that at Sheffield. We only had five race wins and Adam Roynon scored four of them himself.”

The Comets had gone into action using rider replacement for Kenny Ingalls and that only yielded them two points on the night.

Charles Wright guested at reserve for the injured Kyle Howarth and although working hard could only pick-up a point.

Wright was particularly unlucky in the penultimate race. When Chris Schramm suffered a puncture on the third bend of the last lap, Wright tried to go round him and somehow came-off. Schramm managed to complete the race to earn a point and a Comets 3-3 became a 4-2 to the hosts.

It would have sent Workington into the last race needing a 5-1 for a bonus but it wasn’t to be, even though Workington did have a 4-2 in the last.

Adam Roynon was Workington’s match star with those four wins in a total of 17 and a bonus. One of the victories was when he took the tactical ride in heat nine.

Unfortunately it only produced a 6-3 as Ashley Morris fell off on the last heat.

Skipper Richard Lawson was back to something like his old form with ten points – a win, three seconds and a third – while Rene Bach had four second places from as many rides.

Tero Aarnio worked hard throughout for his five points, along with two bonus points.

“It isn’t easy with a guest at reserve and a rider replacement for your number four. We will have to go with that for the week-end but we are looking at signing a rider just as soon as he is identified,” said Jackson.

The Comets ride at home on Saturday against the Ipswich Witches as they attempt to break into the top two.

SHEFFIELD TIGERS 51: Hugh Skidmore 13+1, Joe Haines 11, Richard Hall 11, Ricky Wells 7+1, Chris Schramm 6+1, Kevin Doolan 3+1, Emiliano Sanchez R/R

WORKINGTON COMETS 42: Adam Roynon 17+1, Richard Lawson 10, Rene Bach 8, Tero Aarnio 5+2, Ashley Morris 1, Charles Wright 1, Kenny Ingalls R/R.

First published at 11:29, Friday, 17 August 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk