It was far from a classic speedway meeting but Workington Comets got the job done with a 50-40 win over play-off rivals Ipswich to close in on a place in the SGB Championship’s top four.

Comets did it without Dan Bewley, who was away with the national under-21s in Denmark, and saw off an Ipswich team filled with threats and experienced racers who were out for revenge after losing to Workington last month on their own track.

Ty Proctor bolted and was never troubled for the lead in heat one while a bad start left Nicolai Klindt behind Cameron Heeps and for a home 4-2.

Coty Garcia outgated Rene Bach and Kyle Bickley in heat two and the Comets pair had to settle for a 3-3 as Bickley clawed back third after Drew Kemp caught him to share the points.

Mark Riss got a beautiful start in heat three but both Workington riders settled behind him despite the attention of Nico Covatti for another shared heat.

It was a visiting rider again who burst away from the tapes in heat four as guest Steve Worrall reacted fastest to relegate Bach and Proctor to second and third.

The away side continued to impress as Heeps and Rory Schlein gated on a 4-2 with Jensen between them in heat five, then Workington looked to regain the lead immediately when they gated on a 5-1 in heat six.

Worrall looked to have reeled in Campton but the Australian saw off his challenge and moments later the Witch span out and the race was stopped, only for Klindt and his partner to go out again and do the business to secure maximum points.

Covatti gated like a man possessed in heat seven and held off Proctor despite the Comet attempting a big blast on the last two bends, while Bickley was at the back as the Witches earned a 4-2.

Bach then got as good a start as you will see in heat eight to race away from Garcia and Heeps, only for Jensen to finish last for a 3-3.

Worrall led Jensen and Campton for another draw in heat nine before Covatti demolished the tapes in the next race and was replaced by Garcia.

Workington needed to flex their muscles but although Bach beat Riss to the flag in heat 10 Klindt was stranded in third.

Proctor got his nose in front in heat 11 and pulled off a captain’s ride to shut out Schlein and Heeps before Bach had to ride out of his skin to share the points after Jensen made a mess of the first two bends and eventually pulled up.

Klindt and Proctor left Schlein and Worrall behind in heat 13 for a huge 5-1 and the Ipswich No1 put himself in the fence trying to gain ground on the home duo.

A dramatic start to heat 14 saw Riss’s bike rear up as he narrowly avoided wiping out the pack, while Campton tried to chase down Heeps but couldn’t get near the in-form Witch.

Klindt was the fastest man away and Proctor was trying to line up a pass on Heeps for second when Riss crashed out and the heat was awarded as a home 4-2 to deny the Witches any consolation point and put another win on the board.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Comets will race against Lakeside at home next Saturday then welcome Redcar the following day. Spectators who keep their tickets from Saturday’s meeting will be granted reduced entry on Sunday.