Berwick Bandits face their biggest meeting of the Millenium. That’s the view of team manager Stewart Dickson as they travel to Plymouth on Saturday for the second leg of the MAXiCab Knockout Cup Final.
Bandits hold a 26-point advantage over their hosts as they look to win the trophy for the third time in the club’s 58-year history, and the first since 1989.
But Dickson (pictured) has first-hand knowledge of how fragile a first leg lead can be.
He also manages Premiership side Leicester and they came within a Super Heat of clawing back 24 points in their play-off semi-final against Sheffield just two weeks ago.
Free-scoring Nick Morris was one of the Leicester Lions in the tie-deciding run-off and he lines-up in Devon on Saturday alongside skipper Jye Etheridge, part of the triumphant – and hugely relieved – Sheffield side on the night.
As a result Etheridge will line up on Monday against another Berwick team-mate, Peter Kildemand, in the delayed first leg of the Premiership Grand Final against Belle Vue. That tie is concluded on Friday, a meeting which also marks 37-year-old Kildemand’s final races before retirement.
All three will play a crucial role as the Bandits press for glory at Plymouth’s tiny home track – a full 170 metres shorter than their home circuit in the Borders.
Jordan Jenkins, who drops to reserve in the new averages, is expected to have a busy night with the promising, but unproven at this level, Senna Summers guesting in place of the injured Jack Smith.
Dickson is personally on the brink of a little piece of history as he could become the only team manager to win the KO Cup at Premiership and Championship level in the same season.
He admitted: “It will be a tough night. Plymouth race their track well and will be looking to get among us early on.
“The pressure is definitely on Plymouth and I need my riders to be focussed and use all their experience to weather the storm and help their team-mates if the going gets tricky.
“They all have a job to do. If we avoid last places we will win the cup. It’s that simple.”
Berwick’s bid to end 39 years of cup hurt – they have only reached the semi-finals once since their last victory – will be roared on by a travelling army of over 300 fans who will make the near 900-mile round-trip by car, train, plane and coach.
“We’ll not lack for support that’s for sure,” Dickson said. “Our job is to give them something to shout about and we are fully focussed on that.”
Meanwhile, Edinburgh Monarchs host Glasgow Tigers in the second leg of the Scottish Cup at Armadale on Friday (tapes-up 7.30pm) holding slender lead from the first leg.
