Berwick Bandits 40 Rye House 38

Jul 3 2011 Sunday Sun

BERWICK Bandits took revenge on Rye House for their recent defeat last time out.

The Rockets who shot out from the gate in Heat One to land a 1-5 and went on to take a 2-4 in the next heat.

James Brundle suffered a major clutch-drag in Heat Three taking him into the tapes with the expected exclusion the natural result, but in the re-run with Luke Bowen replacing him it was Kozza Smith and Josef Franc who re-dressed the balance with a controlled 5-1 of their own to tighten the score to 8-10.

That gap was back to six again as Rye moved up to 9-15, but the Franc/Smith partnership hit another five Berwick’s way in the next to reduce the gap to two.

A crash saw Frampton off with shoulder damage while further crashes saw Mudgway, and Edberg injured with the latter taken to Wansbeck Hospital with head and chest injuries.

After the delay, Bandits roared back to within four points. With the council-imposed Shielfield Park curfew of 9.30pm closing, one more heat was allowed.

This was won by Complin, with Alden in second for a crucial Berwick 5-1, putting them into the lead for the first time all night at 40-38, a result that stands.

BERWICK BANDITS: Sebastian Alden 7+2, Alex Edberg 4, Kozza Smith 11+1, 4. Josef Franc 7+2, 5. Lee Complin (Captain) 7, 6. Mitch Davey 1, 7. Jade Mudgway 3

RYE HOUSE ROCKETS: Jordan Frampton (Captain) 4, James Brundle 5+1, Ritchie Hawkins 6+2, Chris Neath - Rider replacement, Steve Boxall 8+1, Luke Bowen 4, Tyson Nelson 11+1