By John Walsh

Last updated 13:17, Wednesday, 13 August 2008

Workington Comets team manager Ian Thomas has pledged to put the record straight on Saturday when Edinburgh Monarchs visit Derwent Park.

Ian Thomas

It followed last night’s heavy defeat at Edinburgh when the Comets went down 59-30 to the rampant Monarchs – and in front of the Sky cameras.

Thomas said: “I really did expect us to put on a better show than that and I’d like to apologise to all those Comets fans who made the trip up to Edinburgh.

“The Monarchs were far and away the better team on the night and I just hope we can win back some lost pride when they come back to our place on Saturday.

“Having said that it wasn’t our night in other ways. I thought we got a wrong call on an exclusion and the mechanical faults we suffered were crucial.

“The last heat seemed to sum it all up for us. Kauko Nieminen was leading when his bike packed-up and then Tai Woffinden took over but coming into the last turn of the race he suffered a similar problem and the two Monarchs swept past for a 5-1.

“I can tell you I was very disappointed and the long drive back to Yorkshire seemed longer than ever.”

Woffinden, who was standing in as a guest for the injured Daniel Nermark, had five starts but won only the two he finished.

He stuck at the tapes in heat one with carburettor problems and was excluded in his next for bringing down Matthew Wethers. Two wins followed, before that unfortunate episode in the final race of the night.

Captain Nieminen was also excluded, when he leapt across Thomas Jonasson on the second turn and both riders ended on the floor in the safety fence.

Workington host Edinburgh in the return Premier League clash on Saturday and still have to arrange dates for the two legs of the Knockout Cup semi-final.

n Match report on Page 45