Edinburgh Monarchs v Berwick Bandits

Report

BERWICK stunned Edinburgh with a 49-41 BSN Series win at Armadale on Friday to keep their semi-final hopes alive.

The teams meet again at Shielfield Park on Saturday with the aggregate point also at stake, with the Bandits enjoying a big bounce-back from their home defeat to Glasgow.

The lead changed hands throughout the meeting with the Bandits recording a key 5-1 from Thomas Jorgensen and Jonas Knudsen over Craig Cook in Heat 11 – whilst Jye Etheridge and reserve Connor Coles wrapped things up as they defeated Paco Castagna in the penultimate race.

Former Edinburgh rider Rory Schlein top-scored for the visitors with 12+1, with Etheridge collecting 9+1. Cook and Josh Pickering both scored nine for the Monarchs.

Berwick boss Gary Flint said: “After the disappointment against Glasgow we asked the riders for a positive response and couldn’t really have asked for more.

“From the moment they arrived there was a totally different feeling about it. They were working for each other as a team, helping each other and got their reward.

“We still have to be on our guard, but with Edinburgh visiting us and then our trip to Glasgow we have put ourselves right back in the mix.

“That’s the team we signed and that’s the level of performance that we expect from them every time.”

Edinburgh manager Alex Harkess said: “I was very disappointed by our display. Kye Thomson was very unlucky to lose a chain and fall when leading one race but as the home team we should have been able to do more. I’m looking for big improvements at Berwick tomorrow (Saturday).”

BSN SERIES SCOTTISH GROUP
EDINBURGH 41: Josh Pickering 9, Craig Cook 9, Paco Castagna 7, Kye Thomson 6+1, Lasse Fredriksen 5+1, Jacob Hook 5+1, Kyle Bickey 0
BERWICK 49: Rory Schlein 12+1, Connor Coles 9+2, Jye Etheridge 9+1, Thomas Jorgensen 8, Leon Flint 6, Jonas Knudsen 4+1, Nathan Stoneman 1+1

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Photo credit: JACK CUPIDO