Last updated 01:00, Friday, 12 October 2007

Redcar Bears 50 Workington Comets 40

IN one of the most remarkable turnarounds of the season, Workington Comets gave themselves more to do than expected in the Young Shield.

Leading Redcar by four points with just four heats left the Comets slipped to a 10 point defeat to try and haul back in tomorrow’s home leg.

A mixture of bad luck for Workington and determined riding by the Bears turned the meeting around for the home side.

Now those Teesside fans, planning a day of sporting entertainment in front of the television, will be tempted into making the trip over for the second leg.

Five of the first six races were won by Workington riders but only one of the last nine.

Yet when skipper Kauko Nieminen won heat 11 it helped give Workington a 35-31 lead.

At that stage few would have predicted a final score whereby the Bears would win by 10 points.

Comets’ problems started in heat 12 when James Wright was ahead and his engine seized and James Grieves and Jack Hargreaves came through to collect a 5-1 over Charles Wright.

No panic, all square with three races to go.

Unfortunately, the Workington pair of Ulrich Ostergaard and Kauko Nieminen were out-gated in heat 13 as Gary Havelock and Chris Kerr raced to another 5-1.

In the penultimate race Workington seemed to get a bad call from referee Dave Dowling who had to give a snap decision on a thrilling battle for third place between Hargreaves and John Branney.

Dowling went for Hargreaves but video evidence later suggested that Branney had, in fact, taken third place by at least a wheel.

These things tend to even themselves out over a season but general consensus in the Comets camp was that it was the sixth or seventh time that a tight call has gone against them.

Damage limitation was then required in heart 15 but Ostergaard had bike problems and with time running out had to race on the only machine available - John Branney’s.

He never got into the race and although Nieminen got into second behind Havelock, Kerr was able to hold off the Dane.

Earlier in the meeting Nieminen had set the fastest time of the night in winning heat five (54.7) but at that stage of the proceedings the Workington riders were calling all the shots.

Havelock had won the opener but then John Branney, James Wright, Ostergaard and Nieminen reeled off heat wins for the Comets.

Although the night finished disappointingly for the Comets they will still start favourites on Saturday having beaten the Bears by 20 points at Derwent Park at the end of July.