Double defeat - Bandits hope to bounce back against Ipswich

The Bandits, in front of the Sky TV cameras, lost 41-49 at home to Peterborough on Wednesday, a result which took the Panthers to the top of the table.

Bandits trailed by 20-points after only eight heats and looked to be on for a heavy defeat.

on Thursday, Berwick travelled to Sheffield, again in the league, where they went down 56-36, producing only one of the 15 race winners.

On Saturday, Berwick take on \Ipswich at Shielfield, in what is now a vital fixture.

And on Sunday they are back in action when they face Rye House (away) in the first leg of their KO Cup quarter-final clash.

BERWICK BANDITS 41

PETERBOROUGH PANTHERS 49

Berwick slipped to a home defeat in front of the Sky TV cameras as Peterborough, came, saw and conquered at Shielfield Park.

The Panthers won by eight points to claim the maximum four match points which took them to the top of the Premier League.

But it could have been a lot worse for the Bandits as they trailed by 20 points at 14-34 after only eight heats, and it was only a second half revival, when they claimed three 5-1s and a 4-2, which gave the final scoreline a more respectable look.

That coincided with a heat nine crash which forced the previously unbeaten Robert Lambert to withdraw from the meeting, although his injuries were later described as not being serious.

Lambert won each of his first three races, including a tremendous inside pass of Berwick guest Ryan Fisher in heat six, but by then the damage had already been done as far as the home side were concerned.

Three engine failures in the first three heats was followed by a tape exclusion for Kevin Doolan in four, when he went off 15m.

Thomas Jorgensen, who had been the only Berwick race winner early on, was then on the wrong end of a 1-5 when in a double pointed tactical ride, and at 8-22 the writing was on the wall.

By heat eight, after another 1-5 from Robert and Simon Lambert, the Panthers were virtually out of sight.

Robert Lambert’s nasty looking crash going into the first bend in heat nine was the turning point, however.

Bandits responded with two successive 5-1s which got them back on track at 24-36.

Jorgensen finished with a flourish, going on to win five races in his 16-point haul, but with Peterborough guest Stevie Worrall winning his first four rides - he lost his maximum to Jorgensen and Doolan in heat 15 - Panthers always looked the better side and thoroughly deserved their victory.

A key feature was the fact Simon Lambert bagged 10 (paid 14) for the visitors at reserve, whilst Richard Hall and Alex Edberg only managed one point between them from eight outings.

SHEFFIELD TIGERS 56

BERWICK BANDITS 36

After their disappointing performance the previous evening, Berwick were hoping to put on a better showing when they travelled to Sheffield on league duty on Thursday.

But again they got off to a slow start, and with the Tigers producing all but one of the 15 race winners it was again another one-sided contest.

Thomas Jorgensen was the only Bandit to take the chequered flag as he again top-scored on 11+2, whilst skipper Kevin Doolan had 11+1. With Alex Edberg unavailable, local teenager Liam Carr was used at reserve and he contributed 2+1.

For the home side Jason Garrity won all four of his races for a full 12-point maximum.

Guest Craig Cook won three races on his way to 11, but it was the form of reserve Josh Bates which gave the Yorkshire side such an edge as he was unbeaten in his first five races as he weighed in with a score of 14+1.

The result boosted Sheffield’s end of season play-off hopes as they moved up to fourth in the Premier League table - at the time, Berwick remained in seventh.

Sheffield: Craig Cook (guest) 11, Ashley Birks – Rider replacement, David Bellego 7+1, Jason Garrity 12, Andre Compton 8, Arthur Sissis 4+1, Josh Bates 14+1

Berwick: Ryan Fisher (guest) 8+1, Fernando Garcia 3, Claus Vissing – Rider replacement, Thomas Jorgensen 11+2, Kevin Doolan 11+1, Liam Carr (guest) 2+1, Richard Hall 1