Workington 51 Lynn 39COMETS' talisman Kevin Doolan sunk his old club in a tight Premier Trophy semi final, first leg at Derwent Park.The popular Aussie top scored (paid 14) on his first competitive outing against the Stars since a close season exit to leave this week's Norfolk Arena return delicately poised.

Workington 51 Lynn 39

COMETS' talisman Kevin Doolan sunk his old club in a tight Premier Trophy semi final, first leg at Derwent Park.

The popular Aussie top scored (paid 14) on his first competitive outing against the Stars since a close season exit to leave this week's Norfolk Arena return delicately poised.

Kozza Smith overhauled his good pal in heat six to wreck Doolan's bid for a five ride maximum on a night when Lynn were again hit by another early injury withdrawal for Jan Graversen.

The Dane pulled out of the meeting after only two rides 24 hours on from a minor operation to remove a two inch splinter from his jaw following a shunt at Edinburgh.

Lynn had gone into the semi without Darcy Ward who is set to miss a minimum of four weeks after suffering a fractured ankle in the same meeting north of the border against the Monarchs.

Redcar ace Ty Proctor deputised for Ward and the Aussie could feature at Saddlebow following his paid 16 heroics earlier this season as Lynn attempt to wipe out a 12 point deficit. Doolan gated to the opener with Linus Eklof and Proctor squaring off the first of ten shared heats.

Smith dived under Craig Cook to launch a decisive counter in the reserves but John Branney squeezed out the battered and bruised Graversen.

Chris Schramm powered to a re-run heat three after Emiliano Sanchez was excluded for clipping Comets' guest Jason Lyons exiting turn one. Lynn's Argentine needed lengthy treatment trackside before settling for a watching brief as Schramm pounced on William Lawson's wide line.

Former Sheffield stalwart Andre Compton drove around Tomas Topinka - Lynn's skipper hitting the shale as Branney one more edged the out-of-sorts Graversen.

Smith and Topinka doubled teamed Doolan in the next but Workington's skipper lined up Topinka before a thrilling joust with Smith just edged by his younger compatriot.

Sanchez craftily mugged Cook down the back straight in heat seven but Compton's winning flag kept Workington two clear at halfway.

Branney repelled Smith with Lynn's fit-again reserve earning an extra outing in place of the absent Graversen.

Sanchez's misfiring engine gifted Workington a timely late heat advantage. Proctor fired in the next before Lyons pipped Schramm in a photo finish to heat 12.

Doolan smoothly anchored two home maximums in the final three heats to give Workington some vital momentum ahead of Wednesday's second leg decider.

Comets: Doolan 14, Lyons 10, Lawson 3+1, Compton 12+2, Cook 3+1, Branney 9+2.

Stars: Proctor 6+1, Eklof 4+2, Schramm 8+1, Sanchez 5, Topinka 6, Smith 9+1, Graversen 1.

Australasia beat Great Britain 53-39 at the Norfolk Arena on Saturday in the second U21 test match of the series. Barracudas' youngster Adam Lowe impressed with a 17-point return for GB but Elite League Swindon asset Justin Sedgmen eased to a perfect six ride maximum for the visitors. GB won the first of the five test series 56-36 at Weymouth.