All change as Pirates sail in

Injuries and absences have reshaped both sides as the R.E.D Bandits, powered by STS look to sink Poole Pirates at Shielfield Park for the second time this season.

Saturday’s visitors have dropped just three points all campaign and are favourites to retain the title which has resided in the Dorset trophy room in four of the past five season. But they return to the scene of their biggest defeat in seven years without number one Richard Lawson, skipper Zach Cook and the reserve pairing of Fraser Bowes and Kyle Newman.

Poole will operate rider-replacement for Cook who is riding for Lodz in Poland while Oxford’s Edward Kennett and Glasgow’s Sam Hagon form the visiting reserve pairing and Sam Masters guests for Lawson who is sidelined after missing a Premiership meeting at Ipswich on Thursday night for personal reasons.

With Peter Kildemand also absent there was really only one guest to call and Leon Flint will make the short trip from Scremerston while Darryl Ritchings clocks up a somewhat more substantial mileage claim as a replacement for Jack Smith who crashed out of last week’s victory over Workington.

Berwick have a perfect home record in 2026, a run which included that 55-35 thumping of Poole in June which propelled us into our first Knockout Cup final for 37 years.

Lawson is a track specialist, as is his replacement Masters but Cook and Newman managed just six points between them on that memorable Shielfield Park night and Poole will be delighted to have Hagon – a 2025 Bandit – in their ranks, not least because he was a match-winner in the fixture for Berwick last season and as a Pirate in 2024.

Rider-replacement for Cook also allows Masters and former Berwick number one Lewis Kerr to cover his absence while 17-year-old Will Cairns, who was missed the cup tie preparing to qualify for the SGP2 series, has been in fine form for Poole despite moving into the main body of the team.

Flint has already made two huge contributions to his former club’s cause this season, guesting in the win over Edinburgh which booked their BSN semi-final place and then produced two big race wins in the first leg of the Knockout Cup semi at Wimborne Road, ending with 10 points. He also led the way as Glasgow lost narrowly at Shielfield Park in both league and BSN Series.

Along with reserve Reid Battye – who was paid for 20 points against Workington – in-form skipper Jye Etheridge and Jordan Jenkins, who returns after missing all three Berwick meetings last weekend awaiting the results of an MRI scan on his back, Victor Palovaara and Nick Morris, Berwick know that defeat would severely dent their hopes of reaching the play-offs.

“You would probably say, on paper at least, that Poole look a stronger side the way they line-up on Saturday,” Berwick team manager Stewart Dickson admitted.

“They were always going to be extra motivated after the cup result but we have been impressive at home. Even when we have been put under pressure we have found a way to win.

“We couldn’t have a better guest than Leon and Darryl will do a good job too. If all our riders do their job then they will get the rewards. This is a time to stand up and be counted with the play-offs on the line.”

E-Tickets are available here and remain on sale until 7.15pm. The only alternative payment method is cash at the turnstiles which open at 6pm. Accompanied under-16s are admitted free and there are two reasonably priced licensed bars – in the H section of the main grandstand and at the rear of The Ducket – along with a fast food takeway, snack bars  and free car parking.

Bandits: Leon Flint, Jye Etheridge, Victor Palovaara, Jordan Jenkins, Nick Morris, Darryl Ritchings, Reid Battye

Pirates: Sam Masters, Will Cairns, R/R Zach Cook, Cooper Rushen, Lewis Kerr, Edward Kennett, Sam Hagon