BURY Comets paid for the absence of key competitors when they were beaten by Northern League Division One leaders Stockport 92-84 at Goshen sports complex.

Eleven race wins for the visitors proved decisive, although Chris Parish opened with victory for the home side in race one after visiting rider Jack Lush had slipped on his pedals.

Stockport’s Matt Lush and Terry Norman gained a 6-4 success in the second, followed by a smart move that saw team-mates Jake Read and Ben Higham repeat the score in race three. Bury’s David Renc and Luke Jamson levelled the scores in race five, and a good win for Steve Whittaker in the sixth saw Bury take the lead with a 6-3 to Parish and Jamson.

Stockport quickly replied with a fine gate by Adam Phillips and Jack Lush teamed up for a seven-point defeat of Ryan Livesey. Whittaker and Paul Dyson regained the lead with a 6-4 win which gave the hosts a narrow 45-44 advantage at the interval.

Stockport then stepped up a gear with a fine 7-3 win from Phillips and Norman to lead by three.

Whittaker and Parish recorded their third wins for Bury, but they were cancelled out by Stockport with good team riding. Visiting rider Ben Higham raced away in the 14th and another 7-3 success for the visitors gave them a seven-point lead with three races to go. In race 16 Jack Lush held off Whittaker from the gate to increase the Stockport lead. Two drawn races resultsed in a deserved win by eight points for the visitors.

Scorers: Chris Parish 17, Luke Jamson 7, Neil Howarth 10, Ryan Livesey 12, Steve Whittaker 18, Joe Allan 7, Paul Dyson 6, David Renc 6 (84), Jack Lush 17, Joe Pickford 8, Matt Lush 12, Terry Norman 13, Ben Higham 13, Jake Read 15, Connor Simpson 2, Adam Phillips 13 (92). Referee: John Whiting.

In Division Two, Bury’s second team remain unbeaten. Kristian Ramsden set the pace for Bury with a fine win over Read.

Stockport quickly hit back as James Elston suffered machine failure. A further exclusion to Livesey put Stockport in contention. Bury settled the ship and an exclusion to Pickford, gave Bury seven points and a springboard to victory. Although Ramsden, Livesey and Elson only provided five wins between them, an effective team performance ensured these points would go the home side. On the track the match ended 70-70 but the 39 points conceded gave Bury a 109-70 win.

Scorers: Kristian Ramsden 17 Chas Whalley 5 Danny Taylor 12 James Elston 13 Joe Holloran 5 Ryan Livesey 9, Adam Turnbull 4 Thomas Whitwam 4, Jake Read 19, James Brown 7, Jack Lush 17, Connor Simpson, 12 Jake Pickford 13. Referee: Chris Parish.