Bandits lead the way Image Credit: Ron MacNeill

A Visit To Bandit Country

PREVIEW Saturday 16th April 2016, 1:12pm

by Graham Muncie

  Edinburgh Monarchs

After their win at Armadale last Friday we travel to Shielfield this evening looking for revenge against the Olympus Marquees Bandits in a League Cup encounter.

Berwick have started the season well and already look dialled in round their home shale having completed home victories over Redcar and Newcastle so far.

The Bandits will know that there win at the dale last week means nothing if they allow for a reverse in this fixture and you would imagine this is a must win for both teams if they are to qualify for the semi finals of the competition.

Star man for the Bandits so far this season has been Kevin Doolan. The likeable Aussie has been rolling back the years and has been paid for at least 12 points in four out of the six matches the Bandits have ridden so far and in one of the matches he didn’t he had 7 from 3 rides before the match was curtailed due to weather at Workington.

Backing up Doolan has been ex-Monarch Matthew Wethers. Stormy as he is affectionately known is making a mockery of his 4.96 starting average so far and has a current cma of 7.39 from the 6 matches ridden and must be one off if not the most dangerous reserve in the league (Sorry Glasgow fans Danny Ayres isn’t quite there yet) and we all know what Matty is capable off on any given night.

The Bandits are a solid outfit throughout with no obvious weak links. The one man who has not been firing so far this season is Anders Mellgren. The Swede has been riding with a knee injury he sustained while practicing before the season. This has flared up and Anders will miss the match on Saturday and perhaps up to a month after being told to rest up, Rider replacement will be in operation for Anders and some could argue this strengthens the Bandits further as on current form the riders eligible to replace him Theo Pijper, Liam Carr and the previously mentioned Wethers are all a safer bet for points.

The Border Roofing Monarchs know that we need to take all 4 points from tonight if we are to have a chance of reaching the Semi final and defending the trophy we have taken home each of the last two years and while we are yet to record a victory this season there may just be a quiet confidence in the camp as we travel to a track we have had sustained success at over the last few years. Sam, Ryan and Kevin all have strong performances at Shielfield on their resume. Ryan being paid for 14 as little as 7 days ago while guesting for Newcastle. Sam scoring paid 14 on his visit last year and Kevin putting in a double figure performance as we won in the league last year also.

The key battle will be in the middle and lower orders. Erik showed his liking for the circuit on his second visit last season and as always will look to improve on further visits to the track. Max will look to continue his fine form from Armadale last week and as the senior reserve we will look to him to try and subdue the Bandits pair as much as possible. Little will be expected from Jye or Dan but as we all know anything can happen if you pop out the gate at Shielfield and Jye has shown glimpses he is more than capable of that so far.

All in all an interesting tussle lies ahead on what looks to be a night to be well wrapped up down in Berwick this evening.