Boss Tony Jackson lauded Workington Comets' fighting spirit after they wiped out an eight-point deficit to force a cup replay then earned a league point at one of the title favourites.

Comets beat Newcastle 49-41 in the Knockout Cup on Saturday to draw 90-90 on aggregate and earn a home-and-away replay, before a battling performance at Ashfield Stadium yesterday saw them lose 46-44 but earn what could prove to be a vital league point against Glasgow.

Craig Cook continued his incredible start to the season with double figures in both meetings but every Comet chipped in across the weekend to silence some of the critics.

Jackson said: “Before the match, we would have been happy with a point at Glasgow but, having got that close, we’re a bit disappointed it wasn’t more.

“To anybody who had written us off before the season started, I think that’s adequate proof that we’re not as bad as they think and we’re a decent side.

“We can only build on this and there won’t be a lot of teams come away from Glasgow with anything.”

It says something about the quality of Comets’ performances that, despite earning a cup replay and an away point against two of the SGB Championship’s highest-rated sides, they came away with a feeling of what might have been had a bit of luck gone their way.

Bizarrely, Comets have only ever raced one replay in the cup which was also against Newcastle in 1975.

Comets went on to win that tie home and away and Jackson will be hoping history repeats itself when the two sides meet again.

“Over the two meetings we were definitely the better side in the cup but, unfortunately, also the ones who suffered the most misfortune,” he said.

“Now we’ve got to do it all again but hopefully we can do enough to go through this time.

“I am happy with the weekend as a whole but it could and should have been a bit better because we were so close to winning here and one more point against Newcastle would have sent us through.”