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Workington Comets v Stoke Potters
Premier Trophy (Group), 01 May 2006
Derwent Park, Workington

Workington 64
1Paul Thorp3333. ..120
2Tomasz Piszcz12*32*. ..82
3Ritchie Hawkins2*313. ..91
4James Wright31332 ..120
5Garry Stead3332*1* ..122
6Lee Derbyshire1101. ..30
7Aidan Collins312*2*. ..82
Stoke 28
1Mark Lemon224^13 ..120
2Michael Coles0011*. ..21
3Paul Clews0211. ..40
4Robbie Kessler10020 ..30
5Alan Mogridge2Fx^20. ..40
6Barrie EvansR100. ..10
7Luke Priest2000. ..20

* = BP. ^ = TR . ! = TS (15m Handicap). # = TR (Points Not Doubled). & = TS (Points Not Doubled, 15m Handicap).

Both Workington and Stoke were at full strength for this match. Workington had a 19 point deficit to pull back from the first match at Stoke last Saturday for the bonus point but they made light work of that having taken the aggregate lead by heat 8.

This was a real hammering for Stoke who were brought down to earth after their fine win on Saturday. Every Comet, apart from Lee Derbyshire, won at least one heat and was paid for double figures. It took Stoke until the last heat to produce a race winner. Mark Lemon was the man to do it for them.

Three 4-2s and a reserves’ race 5-1 saw the home side burst into a 10 point lead and a heat 4 score of 17-7.

In heat 5 the home side added another 4-2 with Mark Lemon splitting Ritchie Hawkins and James Wright then in heat 6 Alan Mogridge took a TR. This ended in failure when Mogridge spun round on the second lap and fell. The race was awarded as a 5-1 to Workington as they moved 16 points ahead. The Comets added another six points to their lead with a 4-2 and 5-1 in heats 7 and 8 to take the score to 35-13. This wiped out Stoke’s first leg lead and left them three points behind on aggregate.

A 4-2 and another 5-1 in heats 9 and 10 were followed by a TR by Mark Lemon in heat 11. Garry Stead won the race but Lemon and Michael Coles took second and third for Stoke’s only race advantage of the match. The 3-5 reduced the gap to 26 points but by this time it was academic. Another 5-1 in heat 12 from Hawkins and Collins took the score to 52-22 and Stoke looked to be struggling to reach the 30 point mark.

Paul Thorp completed a full four ride maximum in heat 13 as he led Garry Stead home for another 5-1. Robbie Kessler finished second to James Wright in heat 14 for a 4-2 then in the last race Mark Lemon ruined Garry Stead’s paid maximum by winning from James Wright and Garry Stead.

Match Report by Merlin