Richard Lawson proved a sound choice as guest for crocked No 1 Lewis Kerr as he guided Berwick Bandits to a confidence-boosting win in the quarter-final, first-leg of the Cab Direct Knockout Cup.
The former Glasgow Tigers star, now 38 and riding for Leicester Lions, powered to 15 points to top score for the Borders club in a 54-36 win over Scuthorpe Scorpions.
Top man for the visitors was Simon Lambert with nine points and a bonus point and the welcome win helped the Jewson-sponsored Bandits recover from their defeat at Edinburgh Stellar Monarchs in the BSN Series on Friday.
Meanwhile, Monarchs’ team manager, Alex Harkess, reflected on a good night for his team against Berwick, taking 11 race wins from the 15 heats and establishing a firm grip on the match in the club’s first home outing of the season.
The Armadale outfit won comfortably 53-37 and the platform was the first five heats where the home side established an eight-point advantage.
Harkess was happy to take the three series points, but even more pleased with the performance, and he will look for an action replay when Poole Pirates visit on Friday (tapes-up 7.30pm) in the return leg of the Championship Knockout Cup. Pirates won the first-leg 49-40.
Harkess said: “That (performance against Berwick) was just what we were looking for, they were really fighting for everything, so determined.”
He added: “They were just never going to give up and I never doubted they would take the points.Everyone did their bit. Young Max James was having engine trouble towards the end, but I wanted to keep him in the rides because he deserved the encouragement.”
Josh Pickering, Monarchs’ No 1, was in gear and so was Justin Sedgmen and another plus for Harkess was Kye Thomson who produced his best display since the last Berwick visit in July 2023.
Pickering said that he wanted to see Monarchs fans with smiles on their faces and, after this display, the home support must have drifted into the night after the meeting boosted by what they saw.
PICTURE: Stewart Dickson in conversation ahead of the Berwick match at Armadale. Picture by Nigel Duncan
CENTRE OF ATTRACTION: Justin Sedgmen (centre) before the meeting against Berwick. Picture by Nigel Duncan
INSIDE TRACK: Alex Harkess, Monarchs’ team manager, in conversation with Cammy, one of the mechanics at Armadale. Picture by Nigel Duncan
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