Birmingham Brummies v Berwick Bandits

Report

BIRMINGHAM moved off the bottom of the Cab Direct Championship with a 48-42 win over Berwick in new manager Stewart Dickson’s first home meeting in charge.

The Brummies recovered from an early six-point deficit and sealed victory with a 5-1 in Heat 15 from Justin Sedgmen and Nick Morris to notch their first victory at Perry Barr this season.

Sedgmen scored 15+1 from six rides with Morris collecting 10+2 and new signing Troy Batchelor (10) won three races on his debut. Thomas Jorgensen scored 10 and Rory Schlein added 9+3 for the Bandits.

Dickson said: “I knew with this new-look team we had a chance of beating Berwick with all due respect to them.

“They put up a good fight but for us to come back from six points down shows the character that we’ve now got in this team.

“The boys responded, and they deserve all the credit. It was great to hear the noise from the terraces; these supporters have waited a long time to see a winning team at Birmingham.”

Bandits boss Scott Courtney said: “It’s a frustrating defeat, but by the same token we battled hard and forced Birmingham to use a tactical substitution early on their home track.

“We were perhaps unfortunate to be the first side visiting after Birmingham’s team changes and obviously the conditions suited Troy Batchelor down to the ground.

“There’s no excuses, we now have to focus on the bonus point when they come to Shielfield.”

CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP
BIRMINGHAM 48: Justin Sedgmen 15+1, Nick Morris 10+2, Troy Batchelor 10, Alfie Bowtell 5+1, Dan Thompson 4+1, Joe Thompson 4+1, Sam Hagon 0
BERWICK 42: Thomas Jorgensen 10, Rory Schlein 9+3, Jonas Knudsen 6, Leon Flint 6, Jye Etheridge 4+1, Jacob Hook 4+1, Connor Coles 3+1

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Photo credit: PHIL McGLYNN