Workington Comets produced a confident display of thrilling racing to secure a 49-44 win over high-flying Peterborough.

The Panthers continued their impressive record of collecting points away from home, but the hosts put in a strong team performance against the side second in the league to grab a crucial three points.

Kyle Howarth got the home side off to a superb start from the gate in heat one but was passed by Ulrich Ostergaard on the third bend. His team-mate Rusty Harrison was pushed hard all the way by last season’s Comets skipper Josh Grajczonek, the pair almost coming together on the final lap but the popular Comet held on for a 3-3.

Ashley Morris didn’t have the return to Workington he would have dreamt about as he destroyed the tapes and was penalised with a 15-metre handicap in the rerun of heat two.

Rafal Konopka got a flying start second time around as the Comets duo tailed off. Morris was quickly on the heels of Matthew Wethers in third but the Aussie held him off to share the points again.

Konopka again stormed out of the gate in heat three but captain Bach made light work of him on the opening lap and Hansen followed on the second in a stellar Comets display to make it 11-7.

A tight start saw Michael Palm Toft splitting the Comets pair Ricky Wells and Wethers from the start. Konopka went down at the back on the second lap but took his time clearing the track as the gap stretched and Wells secured the win and another Comets advantage with a 4-2.

Bike problems before the start saw Rene Bach riding Howarth’s machine in heat five. The Panthers were quick of the traps but Kenneth Hansen wasn’t disheartened as he attempted a spectacular sweep around the outside of Grajczonek. The Dane was almost elbow-to-elbow with the Panther all the way around before the visitor shut the door and clinched a 5-1 for the away team.

Howarth was like a bullet from the start in heat six and Harrison wasn’t far behind as the home side produced another dominant win to stretch their lead to 21-15. The victory was made even sweeter for the home side as it came over familiar faces Palm Toft and Morris.

Wells was cool out front in heat seven but youngster Matt Williamson continued to impress with a special ride ahead of Konopka and Emil Grondal to follow his partner home for another 5-1, pumping his fist as he crossed the finish line.

Grajczonek donned the black and white helmet on a tactical ride in heat eight and made good use of it as he rounded Wethers on the fourth bend to take a win on double points.

A sticky moment saw the latter almost hit the fence on the second lap, but he held off Morris to limit the visitors to a 7-2 after Harrison retired at the back.

Hansen made his way to the front as his countryman Bach tried to wind it on around the outside of Palm Toft in heat nine, but the Peterborough rider just about did enough to split the pair in a Comets 4-2.

A cluttered start to heat 10 saw Harrison and Howarth battle their way to the front as Palm Toft fell to the back. Grondal got one over on Harrison on the second lap but couldn’t get near the classy Howarth for another Comets 4-2.

Ostergaard got the best start of the night in heat 11 before Wells hit back to take the lead. The pair ducked past each other in a thrilling battle for most of the race before Ostergaard pulled away and Grajczonek battled past to snatch a shock Panthers 5-1. Williamson, who had impressed in his first two rides, fell on the penultimate lap but cleared the track.

A spluttering bike caused concern for Wells ahead of heat 13 but there was no evidence of it as he sprang around the outside of Howarth and Palm Toft to follow Ostergaard home. Howarth looked comfortable in third but lost his steel shoe on the third lap and conceded the place to set Comets nerves on edge.

A stunning final heat had every supporter out of their seat as Hansen passed the previously unbeaten Ostergaard in brilliant style to secure the Comets win. Wells had looked good in third to deny the visitors a point before a retirement allowed Grajczonek to take the place and a league point.

Workington Comets 49

1. Kyle Howarth – 2, 3, 3, 0 = 8; 2. Rusty Harrison – 1*, 2*, R, 1 = 4+2; 3. Rene Bach – 3, R, 1, 3 = 7; 4. Kenneth Hansen – 2*, 1, 3, 3, 3 = 12+1; 5. Ricky Wells – 3, 3, 1, 2, R = 9; 6. Matt Williamson – 2, 2*, F, 1 = 5+1; 7. Matthew Wethers – 1*, 1, 2, 0 = 4+1.

Peterborough Panthers 44

1. Ulrich Ostergaard – 3, 3, 3, 3, 2 = 14; 2. Josh Grajczonek – 0, 2*, 6, 2*, 1* = 11+3; 3. Lewis Blackbird R/R; 4. Emil Grondal – 0, 0, 2, 2, 2 = 6; 5. Michael Palm Toft – 2, 1, 2, 0, 1 = 6; 6. Ashley Morris – 0, 0, 1, 1* = 2+1; 7. Rafal Konopka – 3, 1, F, 1, 0, 0 = 5.