WORKINGTON COMETS 2010
 SPONSORED BY THE THOMAS ARMSTRONG GROUP
                    ANDNEWTEAMPARTNERS
             PRESS RELEASE No 14 – April 1st
 
CRAIG Branney is the man in form for Berwick Bandits who open Workington Comets’ official season this week-end.
 
The Workington-based former Comet has had two 12-point scores from the Bandits’ Tyne/Tweed clash with Newcastle Diamonds, one of the teams fancied to lift silverware in the Premier League this season.
 
Over the two legs Berwick only lost by four points and actually drew the Brough Park clash 45-45.
 
New signing Lee Complin was injured in the opener at Shielfield – breaking his arm in two places – and as they did in the second leg at Newcastle, the Bandits will use the rider replacement facility for this week-end’s two meetings with the Comets.
 
The Good Friday meeting at Derwent Park will start at 6-30pm and Workington will be looking to establish a handy lead for Saturday’s return at Shielfield.
 
Team manager Ian Thomas said: “Berwick had two very good performances against Newcastle as they are being seen as one of the top teams this year.
 
“Craig knows Derwent Park like the back of his hand, having been brought up round the Workington track and he has made a good start to the season.
 
“Of course the Berwick number one Adrian Rymel was with us last year and we all know how well he goes round Derwent Park.
 
“With those two in the side, and the opportunity for extra rides in Lee’s absence, it means we will have to work hard to establish an advantage to take over there for the return.”
 
Like Berwick, Workington have shown a lot of promise so far with a double over Redcar in a pipe-opening challenge, followed by some good performances in last week’s individual meeting to celebrate 40 years of speedway.
 
Andre Compton, Workington’s new number one, finished runner-up to James Wright while reserve Craig Cook caught the eye with the fastest time of the night; two wins and a place in the final.
 
New Dane Peter Kildemand also looked exciting material, too, as Workington have shown early signs of gelling into a useful, competitive outfit.
 
“I think it’s going to take one or two more meetings for some of the guys to get into the groove but there have been some promising signs so far. The proof of the pudding, so they say, is in the eating and it all gets competitive now with the home and away clash with Berwick.
 
“We want to start as we mean to go on and an aggregate win is the least we will be hoping for,” said Thomas.
 
Workington will track: 1, Andre Compton; 2, Richard Lawson; 3, Chris Schramm; 4, Peter Kildemand; 5, Adam Roynon; 6, Craig Cook; 7, John Branney.
 
Berwick will use rider replacement for Lee Complin and the team will be made up of Michal Makovsky, Adrian Rymel, Craig Branney, Jade Mudgway, Anders Andersen and Paul Clews.