Berwick Bandits 57-37 Redcar Bears

The first leg on Teesside had twice been postponed on Thursday and Friday because of the weather, and will now be re-staged at a later date.

This was a meeting Bandits dominated from start to finish, despite the best efforts of Bears’ number one Richard Lawson, who won two of his five races to end the evening as top scorer on 14 points.

But he was twice beaten by Vissing, who outgated him at the start, and on one occasion held off a big drive up the inside down the home straight.

A pleasing aspect from Berwick’s point of view was the fact that all their riders were paid for at least one victory, whilst they only ran four last places.

One of the biggest cheers of the night was saved for local teenager Liam Carr, who marked his debut for the team by going out and winning his opening ride in heat two. A 5-1 with reserve partner Steen Jensen put Berwick 8-4 in front, and after that they never looked back.

With wins from Vissing and captain Matty Wethers in three and four, Redcar were forced into using Lawson as a double pointed tactical ride as early as heat five, but Wethers managed to beat him out of the start and held him off for four pulsating laps.

Former Bandit Carl Wilkinson was the visitors’ only other race winner, in heat eight,but by then Berwick had established a match-winning 31-19 lead.

Aaron Summers, riding as a second tactical in nine, pushed Wethers and Matej Kus all the way, and finally managed to pass the Australian off the last bend as he was trying to protect his team-mate.

Kevin Doolan and David Bellego then took a 5-1 from 10 and after that it was just a case of what the final margin of victory would be.

The next three races were all shared 3-3 with two wins for Vissing over Lawson and a second heat win for Kus.

Wethers again led by example in 14 for his third win, but it was Carr who again took the plaudits by holding off the experienced Richard Hall for a 5-1 which stretched the Bandits’ lead to 20 points.

Lawson gave Redcar a winning end in heat 15, but in truth they were well beaten by a better side.

Berwick: C Vissing 12 (max), M Wethers 10, K Doolan 10, D Bellego 7+3, M Kus 7, L Carr 6+1, S Jensen 5+3.

Redcar: R Lawson 14, A Summers 9+1, C Wilkinson 5+2, H Skidmore 5, R Hall 3, J Gravesen 1+1, L Crang 1.