Speedway By John Walsh

Last updated 12:18, Tuesday, 29 April 2008

STAGING an amazing fight-back the Comets came from ten points behind to score six successive heat advantages and win at Stoke 50-42 in the first leg of the Knockout Cup match on Sunday.

Ian Thomas

Workington needed Glasgow to beat Edinburgh by a big score so that they could sneak into the last four of the Trophy, but that never looked remotely likely.

However, Workington are well on their way to a second round match in the Knockout Cup after the fine away win at Stoke. The second leg will be on Bank Holiday Monday, May 26.

Team manager Ian Thomas said: “It was an excellent night’s work. We seemed to be out of it but the guys responded really well and to come back and win the away leg by eight points was quite an achievement.

“We have now won away in the Premier Trophy, the Premier League and the Knockout Cup which is encouraging at this early stage of the season.

“The golden double tactical substitution with Kauko Nieminen coming in and getting second place on the line was crucial but so too were the impeccable riding of Daniel Nermark and the whole-hearted efforts of Charles Wright, particularly his last two winning rides.”

Workington should have staged the first leg at home on Saturday but Derwent Park was untraceable after persistent rain during the day and the meeting was called-off soon after lunch.

Meanwhile speedway in general, and the Premier League in particular, is reeling after the sudden death of Newport promoter Tim Stone.

Newport’s match with Rye House was called-off as a result yesterday and the tributes which flooded in from around the tracks reflected the affection there was for the man who built the Wasps.

Comets Ian Thomas said: “I’m still in a state of shock. He was a perfect gentleman and virtually a one-man band at Newport since he opened there in 1997.

“I used to speak to him regularly and was only talking to him 48 hours before he died.”

Stone, who is believed to have suffered a heart attack, will be remembered as the man who brought speedway back to Newport by opening the Hayley Stadium in 1997. He was totally dedicated to the running of the club, and often supplemented his speedway income by running other events at the circuit. He also improved the facilities by opening the new stadium bar.

Newport speedway have become famous over the last decade for running, at Stone’s personal initiative, the only outdoor event in the close-season, the New Year Classic which traditionally takes place in the first week of January in front of supporters from all over the UK.