Points slipped at Birmingham
Last updated 19:42, Thursday, 12 June 2008
WORKINGTON Comets came desperately close to laying their Birmingham bogey and clocking-up another away win in the Premier League on Wednesday night.
But the Brummies fought back in the last four races to turn a one-point deficit into a five-point winning margin.
Injury-hit Birmingham had to use the rider replacement facility for Adam Roynon and employed three guests as they tracked only three signed riders.
Of Birmingham’s 47½ points 22 came from their guests. Workington have also had their injury set-backs but they were able to field their first full complement in a month.
Joe Haines, out for a week with a damaged arm, found it tough on his comeback. He did win one race but it was his only scoring ride of the night.
Once again Daniel Nermark (13) and Kauko Nieminen (10) spearheaded the Comets challenge which at one point looked as though it would be successful.
Team manager Ian Thomas said: “We were thinking that it was one we could just sneak. There had been nothing between the two teams but they managed two 4-2s in the last four races and that tipped the scales in their favour.”
Birmingham 47½: RR for Roynon, Ksiezak 9, Lyons 13½, Bunyan 4, Watson 7, Clews 9, Birkinshaw 5.
Comets 42½: Nermark 13, Reima 2, Nieminen 10, Haines 3, Stonehewer 6.5, Wright 6, Branney 2.
n James Wright will be back in Workington colours tomorrow night when he stands in for number one Daniel Nermark.
Comets’ top rider is on duty in Poland on Sunday riding in a Grand Prix qualifying meeting.
Nermark was also due to hear this week whether he has been chosen for the Swedish World Team Cup squad.
Thomas said: “Normally Daniel would have been able to dash off after our Saturday meeting and still have time to get to Poland for an afternoon or evening meeting.
“But for this Grand Prix qualifier he has to be there for practice which starts at 9.30am. Practice is mandatory and there can be no excuses so he has to be there for that.
“We are fortunate in that we have a ready-made guest in James who is now operating at reserve in the Elite League for Swindon Robins.
“We haven’t a good record against Birmingham so we really do want to put one over on them.”
Workington and Birmingham have been drawn apart in the Premier League Best Pairs which is staged on the eve of the British Grand Prix at Cardiff.
