Drew Kemp proved the match winner and Berwick Jewson Bandits now take and 18-point lead into the second leg of their Cab Direct Knockout Cup quarter-final in Lincolnshire next month.
Kemp, a former Scunthorpe rider, crashed out of Berwick’s BSN Series defeat at Edinburgh Stellar Monarchs on Friday, but helped put the Knockout Cup holders under real pressure with a 54-36 scoreline in the Borders.
The 21-year-old (pictured) dismissed any fears about his fitness with a tapes to flag victory in Heat three and he went on to claim 12 vital points.
Guest Richard Lawson, standing in for crocked Lewis Kerr (broken ankle), was untroubled on the way to his third maximum around the Borders’ circuit. It was the 13th occasion in which he had scored double-figures around Shielfield.
Skipper Rory Schlein backed him up with 13 points and a bonus while Danyon Hume and reserve Bastian Borke were again heavily involved as Berwick shrugged off the loss of Jye Etheridge. He was involved in the crash at Armadale with Kemp.
The home side were sharper from the gate and Kemp, who admitted to feeling the effects of his Armadale crash, said: “I felt that I pulled my finger out a little tonight. I was a bit slow in my first race but we made a couple of changes and they seemed to work.”
The 21-year-old, German-born racer, said: “I enjoyed winning the cup with Scunthorpe (last year) but I’m a Berwick rider now and would love to be part of bringing some silverware here.”
Stewart Dickson, Berwick’s team manager, said: “All credit to the riders, an 18-point lead exceeded all my expectations but Scunthorpe are a tough proposition on their home track.
“It was a good performance but the job is only halfway through. If the shoe was on the other foot I would be using the defeat as motivation and I’m sure that David Howe will be doing the same before the second leg.”
Bandits: Richard Lawson 15, Danyon Hume 8+1, Drew Kemp 12, Rory Schlein 13+1, Freddy Hodder 0, Bastian Borke 6+2
Scorpions: Kyle Howarth 6+1, Connor Mountain 6+1, Simon Lambert 9+1, Michael Palm Toft 4, Jake Allen 6, Jack Smith 3, Luke Harrison 2+1
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