Dickson: ‘Glasgow are our toughest test so far’

Stewart Dickson has re-shuffled Berwick Jewson Bandits’ as they bid to cement their place at the top of the BSN Series Scottish section at Glasgow Allied Vehicles Tigers on Friday (7.30pm).

Edinburgh’s Justin Sedgmen guests in place of the injured Lewis Kerr and Dickson partners Drew Kemp and Danyon Hume at four.

Skipper Rory Schlein, Berwick’s match-winner against Edinburgh Stellar Monarchs last Saturday, switches to No 3 while Jye Etheridge is named at five while in-form Reserve, Bastian Borke, has declared himself fit despite a huge crash in Saturday’s win.

Glasgow also make two changes to the team beaten 48-42 at Shielfield. Claus Vissing, a member of last year’s Championship winning Tigers’ squad, guests in place of ex-Bandit Leon Flint who represents Great Britain in the European Under-23 Team Cup in Pardubice on Saturday while Poole’s Sam Hagon replaces the suspended Lee Complin.

Having halted the Tigers’ 13-match winning streak two weeks’ ago, there is a confidence within the Borders’ camp that, at the very least, the aggregate point is there for the taking.

Dickson’s revised riding order is designed to get the best out Bandits as they face their biggest test of a season which so far has seen them win four out of four matches.

He explained: “I put a lot of thought into my line-ups and position the riders where I think they can hurt the opposition most. Safe managers maybe let things run their course and hope for a bit of luck, but I’m never afraid to back my instincts.

“I have explained the thinking behind my switches to the riders. As far as they are concerned it doesn’t matter what number they wear on their back, they just need to do their jobs and leave the tactics to me.”

Glasgow, he said, have booked two really good guests and Dickson added: “Claus Vissing is very, very good around Ashfield while Sam Hagon is a top choice too.

“When Bastian declared himself fit I was delighted not only for the lad but because there is simply no-one capable of doing what he has given us this season available on a four point average to replace him. We go there with six points to play with and it is up to us to make that enough.

“Our success so far this season has not come easy, we’ve had to find ways to win the meetings and it is to the credit of the riders that they have.

“Glasgow are the toughest test so far and I am sure some people will be looking to judge how good we are on our performance on Friday.

“That’s fine. The riders know what is expected from them and I think our fans are appreciating the effort they have put in so far. Friday night needs to be another of those big-hearted performances.”

BSN are streaming the meeting with their broadcast going on-air at 7pm.

Glasgow: Chris Harris, James Pearson, Claus Vissing, Paul Starke, Steve Worrall, Sam Hagon, Ace Pijper

Berwick: Justin Sedgmen, Drew Kemp, Rory Schlein, Danyon Hume, Jye Etheridge, Freddy Hodder, Bastian Borke

Referee: Graeme Hunter

PICTURE: Sedgmen heads Schlein. Picture by Keith Hamblin and courtesy of Berwick Jewson Bandits