Berwick Bandits storm to a victory over Devils

Aug 7 2011 Sunday Sun

Plymouth Devils 36 Berwick Bandits 57

BERWICK Bandits were looking for better fortune in their third away match in three days last night at the Saint Boniface Arena against the Plymouth Devils - and they certainly found it in spectacular style!

The Borderers got off to the best possible start with Sebastian Alden and Ludvig Lindgren leaving home star Ben Barker, at the time unbeaten in 31 straight races at the venue, floundering and struggling in third place with the Bandits going 1-5 up.

Following a fall for Jade Mudgway on the opening bend of heat two Kyle Hughes took the win in a home 4-2, whilst Jesper Kristiansen was removed from the third race after falling following a wheel to wheel tussle with Berwick’s Kozza Smith, stopping the race for a three-man re-run which gave an easy 1-5 to Berwick.

Lee Complin and Mudgway made the perfect gate in heat four to leave former Bandit Guglielmo Franchetti and Ricky Wells lost at the back for yet another Bandits’ max as the scored raced on to 7-17 – and the visitors were 22-8 up after the fifth.

Barker was Plymouth’s tactical ride in the sixth for double points and his six-point win in a home 6-3 pulled the Devils back to within 11 points.

Lindgren and Mitch Davey got the Bandits back on the max trail in the eighth with another 1-5 taking Berwick 15 up, allowing Kristiansen a tactical ride for the Devils in heat nine, but a truly awful-looking crash with Complin well out in front, Hynek Stichauer was ejected over the safety fence “like a ragdoll” as Kristiansen went under him with the tactical man excluded and Berwick awarded a 2-4.

Stichauer thankfully walked back to the pits with Berwick 20-37 ahead going into the 10th but a huge delay ensued to repair the damaged fence.

A home 4-2 in the 10th made the score 24-39 while a heat 11 1-5 from Alden and Lindgren sealed the win for the Bandits with four races left on the card at a remarkable 25-44.