Berwick Bandits 55
Ipswich Witches 39
PREMIER LEAGUE
REVENGE was sweet for for the Berwick Bandits on Saturday night when victory soothed the sores caused by being turfed out of the Knockout Cup by their guests by a massive margin two months ago, writes Lawrence Heppell.
And, the hosts shot off to the perfect start with former Witch Kevin Doolan taking the win for the Bandits.
Byron Bekker fell on the second bend of the last lap in heat two while his team-mate Taylor Poole bailed out on the first bend of the last lap in heat three to stop the race, but the points were shared.
Micky Dyer rode a brilliant heat four, charging hard behind Rohan Tungate, making one aborted attempt to pass him on the second lap before jetting hard round the Ipswich man one lap later to take a great second place.
Robin Aspegren and Doolan took wins in the next two races before Seb Alden made a rocket-powered gate in heat seven to jet away for the three points, but behind him, Klaus Jakobsen was left floundering well to the rear.
Dakota North spun coming out of bend two on the opening lap of heat eight and faced the oncoming traffic as Bellego found himself heading right for the out-of-control Witch, colliding with him and sending both cartwheeling on to the track. Both required the attention of the medical staff.
Both riders eventually walked back to the pits, with Bellego rebuilding his bike completely to take part in the re-run, but North was withdrawn with a damaged wrist.
In the re-run Dyer took a big lead, but amazingly, despite the previous impact, Bellego held on to second brilliantly for a Bandits win, leading to Mat Tresarrieu coming out as a tactical ride in heat nine for double points, but he could only muster four as Aspegren took the win in fine style.
It was tactical time again in heat 11 with Leigh Lanham doing the dash for double points. He made a brilliant gate to lead, but Alden shot hard under the Witch to again restrict the doubled points to four in another 3-5 result, but the Bandits still led well by 41-29.
Tresarrieu and Poole looked set to take a visitors’ maximum in heat 13, but Barrett found his throttle hand coming off bend two to shoot hard under the Witches’ Aussie to reduce their advantage.
Alden’s supremacy continued in heat 13 as he marched steadily on to another massive win over his partner Doolan to seal the Bandits’ win on the night with another decisive maximum.
Team manager Ian Rae said: “To get a win tonight was very satisfying, but as it was over Ipswich, who took us apart in the cup, it was especially sweet as we all rode brilliantly to take the deserved success.”
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