Drew Kemp’s career-best 15-point haul in the nerve-jangling Superheat win over Oxford Cheetahs drew praise from Berwick Jewson Bandits’ fans and also a delighted team manager, Stewart Dickson.
The sides were locked at 45-45 after the 15 races in this Cab Direct Championship meeting, but Bandits kept their cool and delighted Dickson said: “I’m pleased for the boys. They worked hard in every race and the reward was two points against a very good Oxford side.”
He added: “Drew was outstanding but, to get eight points from Rory’s rider-replacement outing, was an excellent return. We now look to wrap up our campaign against Workington (Comets) next weekend and five points would be an ideal gift for our fans.”
Kemp’s 15 points laid the foundations for Berwick against play-off chasing Oxford but even the in-form Norfolk racer couldn’t prevent Oxford claiming a 5-1 in Heat 15 which tied the scores and sent the match into a Superheat.
It was Berwick’s first Superheat and Oxford’s third this season and Cheetahs’ team manager Peter Shroeck predictably threw his top men, former Edinburgh Monarchs skipper, Sam Masters, and Scott Nicholls, into the race.
Against them were Kemp and Lewi Kerr and Kerr rewarded his manager’s faith by fending off the repeated challenges from Nicholls, a seven-time British speedway champion.
It was a result which many had though pre-meeting was beyond injury-hit Bandits who used rider-replacement for the injured Rory Schlein.
Bandits: Lewi Kerr 7+1, Danyon Hume 9, Jye Etheridge 6+2, Drew Kemp 15, rider-replacement 8, Freddy Hodder 2+2, Lasse Fredriksen (guest) 6+2
Cheetahs: Sam Masters 12+2, Cameron Heeps 4+2, Ashton Boughen 1+1, Jordan Jenkins 6, Scott Nicholls 17, Luke Killeen 5+1, Jody Scott 0
PICTURE: Kemp celebrates with Berwick fans by Taz McDougall
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