Workington Comets are only going to get better after a 54-37 dismantling of strongly-fancied Sheffield on the opening night of their SGB Championship campaign, according to manager Tony Jackson.

The Tigers were expected to give Comets a run for their money at Derwent Park but a Craig Cook masterclass and excellent performances throughout the home team produced a 17-point demolition.

Jackson said: “There’s no doubt about it, Sheffield will be up there at the end of the season and I think a few people tipped us to be near the bottom. This will make them take notice.

“It’s a good team this and it’s only going to get better now we are up and running.

“They came here quite confident and obviously losing Lasse Bjerre made a difference but from R/R they got four and one bonus.

“Lasse might have got a few more than that but it wouldn’t have changed the result.

“Sheffield didn’t get any points and it was a solid team performance.”

Jackson singled out the team-riding between Cook and Thomas Jorgensen to shut out former Comets No.1 Josh Grajczonek in heat 13 as the race of the night but was keen to give credit to all of his riders.

“I can’t praise them enough really,” he said.

“Craig Cook is leading from the front, Ty Proctor is gradually getting himself back to his best and Adam Roynon stepped up to the mark.

“Heat 13 showed the spirit we’ve got in the team already and if we can build on that, who knows what can happen.”

Jackson said Mason Campton’s meeting of two halves was explained by an engine problem similar to the one he suffered in the Cumberland Open Championship, which he believes is now fixed.

Comets host Scunthorpe Scorpions next Saturday in the SGB Championship.