Workington Comets 62 Scunthorpe Scorpions 28 (98-82 on aggregate)

Cup wins are always special but Workington Comets somehow made one even better by coming from 18 points down after the first leg with six riders against Scunthorpe to clinch the Knockout Cup in magical style.

Rene Bach, Rasmus Jensen, Nicolai Klindt, Kyle Bickley, Mason Campton and guest Claus Vissing, supported by injured Comets Ty Proctor and Dan Bewley, dismantled the Scorpions in stunning style at Derwent Park in front of a wild crowd to write their names into the history books and end the long wait for a major full-team trophy.

Team manager Tony Jackson had asked for a quick start and he got his wish as Rasmus Jensen and Rene Bach blasted four points off the Scorpions’ lead with a 5-1 in the opening race, roared on by the fired-up crowd.

The nerves got to Danny Phillips as he jumped the start of heat two but there was no such panic for Workington as Mason Campton and Kyle Bickley gated on a 5-1. Gino Manzares squeezed between the pair but Bickley showed his knowledge of the Derwent Park track to shut down every attempt from Phillips for a 4-2.

Heat three was made more difficult when Claus Vissing was disqualified for flying through the tapes and it was Bickley who was given the nod to come in as his replacement.

The visitors clamped Rasmus Jensen to the inside line in the rerun to exit the first bend on a 5-1 but the Comet bided his time and swept around the outside of Jason Garrity on the third bend before cut back to pip him to the line and limit the damage.

Klindt and Campton got the jump on Steve Worrall from the start of heat four and the Australian rode hard but fair to keep the Scorpion in third and wipe four more points off Scunthorpe’s lead and put some pressure on the away side.

Jensen rocketed to the front of heat five to join his friend Claus Vissing but fellow Dane Thomas Jorgensen wasn’t giving up and he was between the home pair by the third lap in a 4-2 to bring the gap down to eight points.

Bach and Klindt combined away from the tapes on a 5-1 with Worrall not far behind in heat six but the Scorpion couldn’t get anywhere near the home duo as the deficit was reduced to just four points after six races.

Klindt had to survive sustained pressure from Allen in heat seven while Garrity was all over the place trying to gain ground on the pair to join the battle but it was the Comet who held on for the win despite a late charge to share the points.

With the scores tight it was vital to keep the momentum going and the hosts more than did that in heat eight as although Nielsen hit the front he was quickly reeled in by Campton and the Comet held him up to allow Bach to bomb around the outside for a 5-1 which levelled the scores.

Jensen made it to the front of heat nine and although Vissing missed the start and took a shove from Phillips he came back at the Scorpion with a vengeance down the back straight to clinch third in a 4-2 which nudged Comets ahead on aggregate.

Heat 10 looked like being crucial to the end result and the riders clearly thought so as they flew into heat one and Vissing and Garrity clashed will going for the same line, sending both riders tumbling to the shale. Both riders were able to walk away but Garrity suffered a suspected collarbone injury and was forced to pull out, although it arguably left the visitors no weaker with Allen able to come in as his replacement on injured rider replacement.

A sublime start saw Bach dart to the front of the rerun and ride masterfully to keep Allen at bay, but Vissing was stranded behind Nielsen and couldn’t find the pass he needed as both sides had to settle for a draw to ramp the tension up.

Scunthorpe threatened to retake the lad when Jorgensen and Nielsen got their noses in front on a 5-1 in heat 11 but an incredible fourth bend saw both Campton and Bach sweep past the former Comet in a special move which felt like it might be a cup-winner.

The Comets were on a 5-1 in heat 12 from the start as Allen tried to give it the big blast around the outside but seemed to be drifting backwards. Klindt was long gone but Campton found himself in third once Allen settled onto the right line and the Comet stood his ground to earn a 4-2.

A big heat 13 would almost seal it and a peach of a start for the Klindt-Bach partnership secured a 5-1 in some style, with the Danish duo cruising around to get the whole ground on their feet.

The trophy was almost in the cabinet now but there was still a job to be done in the final two races and the crowd was in full voice to make sure their riders got it done.

Comets gated on a 5-1 in the penultimate race, pulling away from Allen as the Scorpion tried in vain to make up the distance but it was fruitless with the Scorpions well-beaten and Workington victorious with a race to spare.

Jensen, pumping his fist as he crossed the finish line, typified this team of battlers which is undoubtedly the club’s finest ever team.

Few will remember the 5-1 he secured in heat 15, with Bach this time, as the celebrations had already started and an emotional night ended with silverware at last.

Workington Comets 62 (98)

1. Rene Bach – 2*, 2*, 3, 3, 2*, 3 = 15+3

2. Ty Proctor R/R

3. Claus Vissing – TX, 1, 1, 0, 3 = 5

4. Rasmus Jensen – 3, 2, 3, 3, 3, 2* = 16+1

5. Nicolai Klindt – 3, 3, 3, 2, 3 = 14

6. Kyle Bickley – 1, 0, 0 = 1

7. Mason Campton – 3, 2*, 2*, 1*, 1, 2* = 11+4

Scunthorpe Scorpions 28 (82)

1. Thomas Jorgensen – 1, 2, 0, 0 = 3

2. Stefan Nielsen – 0, 0, 1, 1*, 3, 1 = 6+1

3. Jason Garrity – 1, 1* = 2+1 WITHDRAWN

4. Jake Allen – 3, 2, 2, 2, 1, R = 10

5. Steve Worrall – 1, 1, 2, 1 = 5

6. Danny Phillips – 0, 0, 0 = 0

7. Gino Manzares – 2, 0, 0, 0, R = 2

HEAT 1 – Jensen, Bach, Jorgensen, Nielsen – 65.6, 5-1 (41-55)

HEAT 2 (RERUN) – Campton, Manzares, Bickley, Phillips – 66.6, 4-2, 9-3 (45-57)

HEAT 3 (RERUN) – Allen, Jensen, Garrity, Bickley – 65.5, 2-4, 11-7 (47-61)

HEAT 4 – Klindt, Campton, Worrall, Manzares – 66.3, 5-1, 16-8 (52-62)

HEAT 5 – Jensen, Jorgensen, Vissing, Nielsen – 66.8, 4-2, 20-10 (56-64)

HEAT 6 – Klindt, Bach, Worrall, Phillips – 66.7, 5-1, 25-11 (61-65)

HEAT 7 – Klindt, Allen, Garrity, Bickley – 66.5, 3-3, 28-14 (64-68)

HEAT 8 – Bach, Campton, Nielsen, Manzares – 67.2, 5-1, 33-15 (69-69)

HEAT 9 – Jensen, Worrall, Vissing, Phillips – 66.5, 4-2, 37-17 (73-71)

HEAT 10 (RERUN) – Bach, Allen, Nielsen, Vissing – 66.9, 3-3, 40-20 (76-74)

HEAT 11 – Nielsen, Klindt, Campton, Jorgensen – 67.2, 3-3, 43-23 (79-77)

HEAT 12 – Vissing, Allen, Campton, Manzares – 67.5, 4-2, 47-25 (83-79)

HEAT 13 – Klindt, Bach, Worrall, Jorgensen – 67.3, 5-1, 52-26 (88-80)

HEAT 14 – Jensen, Campton, Allen, Manzares (retired) – 66.3, 5-1, 57-27 (93-81)

HEAT 15 – Bach, Jensen, Nielsen, Allen (retired) – 67.4, 5-1, 62-28 (98-82)