Berwick Bandits 40-50 Edinburgh Monarchs

Craig Cook was the star of the show for the Monarchs, racing to a flawless 15-point maximum, which included one tremendous race, heat five, when he burst through from third to first after being taken wide on the first bend.

With Sam Masters only dropping one point from five starts, in his opening ride, when he was beaten by Claus Vissing, Edinburgh had two riders who looked well up for the fight.

And with Kevin Wolbert and reserve Robert Branford also chipping in with valuable points, the Bandits again had their work cut out to contain the opposition.

Berwick made a decent start with Vissing winning his first two rides, Kevin Doolan and Alex Edberg also contributing well as the home side edged an early lead at 22-20 after heat seven.

But with Ben Barker still looking in some pain from his hand injury as he made his comeback earlier than expected, the meeting turned in heat eight when Justin Sedgmen and Branford made the gate and held off Doolan and Edberg for a 1-5 which saw the visitors hit the front for the first time at 23-25.

Masters then won in nine and with the Monarchs taking two successive 2-4s in 10 and 11, Edinburgh suddenly found themselves in the driving seat.

Doolan won in 12, but a 1-5 from Cook and Masters over Barker and Vissing in 13 guaranteed the Monarchs victory on the night.

A 5-1 from Thomas Jorgensen and Edberg in 14 restricted the damage, but there was no stopping the visitors’ top two of Cook and Masters who led from start to finish to give Edinburgh an away bonus point to boot.

Berwick: Doolan 11+1, Edberg 8+1, Vissing 8, Jorgensen 7+1, Barker 6+1, Crang 0.

Edinburgh: Cook 15 max, Masters 12+2, Wolbert 9, Branford 8+3, Sedgmen 4, Clegg 2+1, Riss 0.