Skipper Lewi Kerr saved his Berwick Jewson Bandits side from a big defeat at Armadale against Stellar Omada Monarchs in the Cab Direct Championship.
His 15-point haul included two race wins over Monarchs’ No 1 Josh Pickering in the 51-39 defeat but, guest reserve Joe Thompson aside, there was little support from a Bandits side which has now lost on its last eight outings.
A late rally saw the visitors restrict Edinburgh’s advantage to 12 points and improve their chances of claiming the aggregate point when the teams meet again at Shielfield Park on Saturday (tapes-up 7.30pm).
Berwick were sharper from the gate than their hosts for most of the night but, Kerr and Thompson apart, found themselves picked off from the back by a home side which covered admirably for injured heat leader Justin Sedgmen.
In contrast to their visitors, three Monarchs hit double figures and captain Paco Castagna weighed in with nine points.
Stewart Dickson (pictured), Berwick’s team manager, said: “There’s no hiding it, this was a pretty poor performance bar two riders. We had a good travelling support and it was just not good enough from the riders.
“I know we have only just returned from a four-week break but, for the first six or seven races, some of our riders were riding their bikes rather than racing them.”
Monarchs: Josh Pickering 14+2, Kye Thomson 13+1, Lasse Fredriksen 10+1, Paco Castagna 9+2, rider replacement for Justin Sedgmen, Max James 1+1, Connor Coles 4
Bandits: Lewi Kerr 15, Danyon Hume 3, Jye Etheridge 3+1, Drew Kemp 5, Ben Barker 2, Freddy Hodder 1, Joe Thompson 10+1
In Glasgow, Allied Vehicles-backed Tigers were edged 46-44 by league pace-setters Poole Pirates and home team manager Cami Brown praised his men’s fighting spirit in the defeat.
Brown added: “We were probably underdogs coming into the meeting without Steve (Worrall) and James Pearson was struggling with illness, however, no excused, we were beaten by the better team on the night. They are a fantastic side.”
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