BANDITS SNATCH BSN VICTORY

BERWICK skipper Rory Schlein and guest Richard Lawson pulled off a dramatic last-heat 5-1 to secure victory over Edinburgh in the BSN Series.

The scores were level heading into the decider and the Monarchs tracked Josh Pickering, who had won his first five rides – but Schlein took it from tapes to flag whilst Lawson held off Pickering’s challenge to clinch a 47-43 victory.

But the win did come at a potential cost as the Bandits, already without broken ankle victim Lewis Kerr, had Bastian Borke taken to hospital with lower back and pelvis pain after a first-bend clash with Paco Castagna in Heat 14.

Schlein top-scored with 14 points from six rides in a meeting where both teams used a tactical substitute, and Pickering piled up 16 for the Monarchs.

Said Schlein: “We had to dig deep to beat a very good side.

“In the end we had to battle hard and show some real character to get over the line.”

Monarchs reserve Connor Coles said: “We all had a good match I think, but they just got that maximum in the last heat.

“Josh was fantastic to only get beat in heat 15 all night, and I think we all had our moments in the team. It shows what is needed to win and you can’t afford any slip- ups.”

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Photo credit: KEITH HAMBLIN