Workington Comets rediscovered some of their mojo with a convincing 58-34 win over Peterborough.

A much-changed Panthers team saw National League rider Joe Lawlor at No5, rider replacement for Jack Holder at No1 and former Comet Adam Roynon return to Derwent Park at No2, months after he was dropped by the hosts.

But despite their opponents being off the pace, Workington impressed with a solid display which would have beaten much better sides as Craig Cook and Thomas Jorgensen went unbeaten by an opposition rider for the second meeting in a row.

Team manager Tony Jackson said: "It was a win and you can only beat what's in front of you.

"Irrespective of who we were riding against, I think the lads showed a lot more tonight.

"All of the top five did well and we won 12 races so I'm quite happy.

"It's a good confidence booster for the lads.

"We all realise we're under the microscope and results haven't gone as we wanted them to."

Mason Campton darted for the inside line as Cook roared away in the opening heat, with the pack spread out as the hosts opened their account with a 5-1.

James Sarjeant has faced strong criticism for his recent performances but he beat everyone away from the tapes in heat two, only for bike problems to force him to retire and condemn Workington to a 1-5.

Matt Williamson nailed the start twice in heat three as the first run was pulled back when Ty Proctor fell, and he withstood intense pressure from Ulrich Ostergaard to win in one of the races of the season. Proctor capitalised as Paul Starke retired for a home 4-2.

Jorgensen somehow got away with a flying start to win heat four, but Tom Woolley was last to share the points to make it 13-11 after four races.

Roynon bolted to the front in heat five but Williamson and Proctor made it look easy to pass him for another 5-1, with Roynon falling to let Starke in for third, before the Cook and Campton partnership bagged a third Comets 5-1 in heat six.

With Ostergaard taking a tactical ride in heat seven, Jorgensen needed to be on the ball and he didn’t disappoint, romping around in style while a retirement allowed Woolley into third behind the Panthers’ No4 for a 4-4.

Roynon had a point to prove in his third ride as he cruised to a win ahead of Campton and Sarjeant, who replaced him in the Comets lineup, before Proctor and Williamson found themselves trailing Lambert in heat nine until the Australian passed him to make it a Workington 4-2.

Ostergaard couldn’t cope with Cook in heat 10 as the Comets skipper rocketed away from the outside gate, but he held off Campton comfortably to limit the home side to another 4-2.

Sarjeant was forced to start from 15 metres in heat 11 after moving twice but Jorgensen bailed him out with a mightily impressive blast around the boards to win in a 3-3.

Proctor gated and was gone in heat 12 while Sarjeant pulled off a great cutback to leave the Panthers’ duo for dead, only to be caught by Starke on the run to the line.

Jorgensen and Cook pulled clear of Roynon easily in heat 13, with Lawlor a distant last as a fourth Comets 5-1 made it 50-30.

Ostergaard was unmatched in heat 14 but Williamson and Sarjeant finished second and third at a canter for a draw.

With the win long since sewn up, Cook cleared off for his final three points in heat 15 and was soon joined by Jorgensen as the Dane clawed his way from last to second to end the meeting on a 5-1.

MATCH FACTS:

Workington Comets 58

1. Craig Cook – 3, 2*, 3, 2*, 3 = 13+2

2. Mason Campton – 2*, 3, 2, 1 = 8+1

3. Ty Proctor – 1, 2*, 3, 3 = 9+1

4. Matt Williamson – 3, 3, 1, 2 = 9

5. Thomas Jorgensen – 3, 3, 3, 3, 2* = 14+1

6. James Sarjeant – R, 1*, 0, 1, 1* = 3+2

7. Tom Woolley – 1, 0, 1 = 2

Peterborough Panthers 34

1. Jack Holder R/R

2. Adam Roynon – 0, F, 3, 2, 1, 1 = 7

3. Paul Starke – R, 1, R, 0, 2 = 3

4. Ulrich Ostergaard – 1, 2, 4^, 2, 3, 0 = 12

5. Joe Lawlor – 1*, 1, 0, 0 = 2+1

6. Simon Lambert – 3, 0, 2, 1*, 0 = 6+1

7. Tom Bacon – 2*, 2, 0, 0 = 4+1

HEAT BY HEAT

HEAT 1 – Cook, Campton, Ostergaard, Roynon – 62.6, 5-1

HEAT 2 – Lambert, Bacon, Woolley, Sarjeant (retired) – 65.8, 1-5, 6-6

HEAT 3 (RERUN) – Williamson, Ostergaard, Proctor, Starke (retired) – 64.3, 4-2, 10-8

HEAT 4 – Jorgensen, Bacon, Lawlor, Woolley – 64.3, 3-3, 13-11

HEAT 5 – Williamson, Proctor, Starke, Roynon (fell) – 64.4, 5-1, 18-12

HEAT 6 – Campton, Cook, Lawlor, Lambert – 64, 5-1, 23-13

HEAT 7 – Jorgensen, Ostergaard (tactical ride), Woolley, Starke (retired) – 63.5, 4-4, 27-17

HEAT 8 (RERUN) – Roynon, Campton, Sarjeant, Bacon – 64.5, 3-3, 30-20

HEAT 9 – Proctor, Lambert, Williamson, Lawlor – 65, 4-2, 34-22

HEAT 10 – Cook, Ostergaard, Campton, Starke – 62.7, 4-2, 38-24

HEAT 11 – Jorgensen, Roynon, Lambert, Sarjeant (15 metres) – 64.9, 3-3, 41-27

HEAT 12 – Proctor, Starke, Sarjeant, Lambert – 64.6, 4-2, 45-29

HEAT 13 – Jorgensen, Cook, Roynon, Lawlor – 64.8, 5-1, 50-30

HEAT 14 – Ostergaard, Williamson, Sarjeant, Bacon – 65.2, 3-3, 53-33

HEAT 15 – Cook, Jorgensen, Roynon, Ostergaard – 64, 5-1, 58-34