Last updated at 13:01, Saturday, 29 September 2012

Workington Comets go into tomorrow’s League Cup semi-final with Ipswich needing to overturn a 12-point deficit in order to reach the final.

Kyle Howarth

Comets went down 51-39 to the Witches last Thursday, although Workington were only two points down after heat 10, until Ipswich pulled away in the final stages.

If the Comets win on aggregate they will face either Somerset or Newcastle in the final.

Workington only beat Ipswich by seven points in their league fixture last month but were missing Kyle Howarth last time out.

Howarth returned to the side in blistering form last week, after eight weeks out with a broken wrist, and scored a six ride 18 point maximum.

Workington have booked regular guest Ricky Wells to replace Adam Roynon while rider replacement will operate for Kenny Ingalls.

Team manager Tony Jackson said: “Ricky has done well for us so far this season and scored 14 points for us at Ipswich so hopefully he can do the same in the second leg.

“I think if the gap had been any more than 12 points I think it would have been really tough but I would like to think we can get it back.

“It is going to be close and I think the aggregate scores will possibly be only a couple of points either way.”

Jackson was pleased to welcome back Howarth as it was originally thought he would be out for the rest of the season when he suffered his injury against Newcastle in July.

Despite his amazing return to form Jackson said fans should not expect Howarth to be scoring maximums every week.

He said: “Having Kyle back gives the team a bit more balance but it would be wrong to expect him to maximums every week as we don’t want to put too much pressure on him.

“It gives us a few more options and although our guests did a good job you can’t beat having your own riders.”

Jackson is relatively pleased with Comets play off group after they were chosen to be in one with Scunthorpe and Edinburgh with Newcastle Somerset and Leicester contesting the other one.

Jackson added: “I am glad we have avoided Somerset but would have preferred Leicester but we are where we are.

“We have beaten both clubs on aggregate in the league this season and we will have to see what happens.

“All the matches in the play offs are going to be hard, so we will have to see who will emerge on top, and I would like to think it will be us.

“However, it is that close it could be whoever gets that bit of good or bad luck which could swing it in a team’s favour.”

“We have got Kyle and Tero Aarnio back and hopefully Adam before the end of the year which would be a big boost.”

First published at 11:52, Saturday, 29 September 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk