Berwick Bandits v Edinburgh Monarchs

Our team have got off to a great start and after the big win on Friday they delighted the Monarchs’ support by also winning down at Shielfield.

The teams swapped 5-1s in heats 2 and 3 with our reserves taking a maximum advantage, and other than that it was level pegging for 7 heats. As well as Justin’s heat 2 victory, our race winners were Craig in heats 1 and 5, plus Sam in heat 6. Sam had looked very impressing giving Claus Vissing a hard time in heat 4.

David Bellego pulled off the first overtake of the night in heat 8 when he passed Steve Worrall down the back straight, and with Jensen ahead of Sedgmen the Bandits took the lead.

Heat 9 was shared and heat 10 was controversial. At the first attempt Bellego seemed to shove Derek Sneddon off, and Max was caught on the outside and came down as well. All four back, then in the restart Derek was away well and clamped Bellego to the line.

The Frenchman lost it, lifted, ran into Derek and came off – but was allowed back in the rerun. Inevitably the home riders made the gate in the third running and we were now 6 down.

Any thoughts that Vissing might give Cook a race in heat 11 were quickly dismissed as Cookie romped clear, and the bonus was Aaron in third place when Jensen came off.

Heat 12 looked hopeful and indeed it was a fine effort from Worrall and Fricke who raced away from Kus to level the scores.

So the scores were level again. Cook won heat 13 but a slow start for Sam kept him pointless, though he made a lot of ground on Doolan.

Derek and Steve gated in heat 14 but left the outside uncovered as Matthew raced past down the back straight. So we were at 42-42 going in to heat 15.

Bandits chose 2 and 4 and we had Sam on the inside, Craig on gate 3 against Matthew (2) and Claus (4). It proved to be one of our easiest heats of the night as our pair made perfect starts and never looked like losing.