WORKINGTON confirmed their place in the KO Cup semi-finals with a comfortable 61-29 victory over depleted Newcastle last night - to progress by an aggregate score of 111-69.
The Comets provided all 15 heat winners with Rene Bach and Rasmus Jensen both scoring 12-point maximums, whilst Mason Campton and Nicolai Klindt added 11+2 and 10+2 respectively.
Tero Aarnio scored 11+1 for the Diamonds, who were without Ludvig Lindgren, Matej Kus and Matthew Wethers.
Comets boss Tony Jackson said: “After our success at Brough Park in the away leg we knew we just had to be sensible in our home leg and get the job done in a professional manner, which we did.
“Rasmus and Rene each registered four-ride maximums while Ty Proctor was unbeaten by an opponent in the three rides he took on return from injury, and Mason only missed out on a paid maximum in Heat 15.
“We all realise that things will be a lot tougher in the next round against Edinburgh. We have won once and also been soundly beaten up at Armadale already this season, which just proves that any result is possible on the day; but we will certainly give it our best shot.”
Newcastle boss George English said: “Disappointing doesn't even scratch the surface tonight as circumstances dictated we had to field a side which was going to struggle, and to end on a damp squib like this was never in the script.
“James Hitchin performed better than his 1+1 would suggest and certainly showed to be a young man with promise, and we did get six more points here tonight than we did when we had a full team in the league.”
CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD FINAL, 2nd leg Workington 52 (Mason Campton 12+1) Lakeside 38 (Nick Morris 12+1) Workington won 98-82 on aggregate.
CHAMPIONSHIP Workington 18 (Rasmus Jensen 6) Lakeside 6 (Adam Ellis 2, Nick Morris 2) Abandoned after 4 heats - frozen track - result will not stand.
SUNDAY OCTOBER 28:
CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND FINAL 2nd leg Workington 61 – Nicolai Klindt 15 Lakeside 29 – Adam Ellis 9 Workington win 95-73 on aggregate and are league champions
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE Buxton 38 – Tom Woolley 13 Eastbourne 52 – Georgie Wood 13+1 National League points: Buxton 0 Eastbourne 4
Stoke 41 – Max Clegg 18 Eastbourne 49 – Tom Brennan 11 National League points: Stoke 0 Eastbourne 4
SATURDAY OCTOBER 27:
CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND FINAL 1st leg Lakeside 44 – Nick Morris 12 Workington 34 – Mason Campton 9 Abandoned after Heat 13 (rain/track conditions) – Result stands
FRIDAY OCTOBER 26:
TRAVEL PLUS NATIONAL LEAGUE Eastbourne v Mildenhall - OFF
THURSDAY OCTOBER 25:
CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP FINAL, 2nd leg
Workington 62 (Rasmus Jensen 16+1)
Scunthorpe 28 (Jake Allen 10)
Workington win 98-82 on aggregate
NATIONAL LEAGUE GRAND FINAL, 2nd leg
Mildenhall 46 (Drew Kemp 13)
Eastbourne 44 (Georgie Wood 11+1)
Eastbourne win 98-81 on aggregate
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 24:
CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF S/F, 2nd leg Lakeside 56 (Ben Morley 12+1) Peterborough 34 (Emil Grondal 8+1) Lakeside win 102-78 on aggregate.
