A DEPLETED Bury Comets team pulled off an outstanding win against visitors Sheffield at Goshen Park.

With six first-team regulars and three second teamers unavailable, defeat for the table-toppers looked inevitable.

Bury got off to a good start with a 6-4 win in heat one and, amazingly, through a sheer will to win and determination produced an unbelievable 104-75 points victory over the 18 heats.

Will Owens scored his first ever 20-point maximum to top the scoresheet with five suberb race wins.

Chris Parish was unbeaten by an opponent scoring 19+1 bonus points, Neil Howarth 17+2, Joe Allen 15+4, Ryan Livesey 12, Steve Mann 8+1, James Elston 7+1 and Gary Hollingsworth 6.

The second team match was also a classic with tired riders pushing themselves to the limit with sheer team spirit to the fore after Owens suffered a leg injury halfway through.

Sheffield seemed to be in control and fitter as the 15 heats unfolded. As late as heat 12 they were still leading 61-59.

Ryan Livesey and young Adam Turnbull scored a timely 6-4 to level the scores at 65-65 with two races to go. Veteran Steve Mann pulled a win right out of the blue to set up a final heat in which an exhausted Livesey and Joe Allen hung on for second and third places to share the lead 5-5 after the Rocket’s best rider Carl Holland had raced to the front.

Thhe Comets’ unbeaten record was left intact with a 76-74 win to massive cheers of relief all round. Most of the home riders were totally drained, the wet and heavy track had taken its toll in this amazing race.

Allen scored 18+1, Livesey 18, Mann 13, James Elston 9, Owens 8+1, Turnbull 6+2, Gary Hollingsworth 4. Meanwhile, on Sunday at Wolverhampton, Paul Dyson just missed out on a rostrum place with fourth in the British Over- 40, won by Sheffield’s Chris Turner.

The O-60s saw Bury’s John Whiting with 16 points and Fred Rothwell with 15 finishing high on the list but without reward in the event, won by Birmingham’s Bob Prince.

The fourth regional round of the British Youth and Junior League and Transpennine Grand Prix takes place at Goshen on Saturday, starting at 1pm.

The Northern League Individual championships go ahead at Firth Park, Heckmondwike on Sunday. Racing starts for the u10s at 11.30am with the u13s, the u16s going off at 1.30pm, u19s and veterans at 2.30pm with womens and open age at 4.30pm.