Big three keep aggregate hope alive

Scunthorpe Scorpions   50

R.E.D Bandits, powered by STS      40

Craig Cook and Peter Kildemand led a late rally which gives the R.E.D Bandits, powered by STS a fighting chance of claiming the aggregate bonus point later in the season, using all of their vast experience to team ride Zaine Kennedy and Jake Allen into the minor placings.

Going into the race the visitors trailed by 16 points after Danyon Hume and tactical substitute Drew Kemp got in each other’s way and turned a Bandits’ 5-1 into a Scorpions 4-2. Kemp was caught on the line by Simon Lambert who top scored for the home side who rallied after losing number one Steve Worrall on the first bend of heat one.

He tangled with Kildemand and the pair headed into the fence, the Berwick man appearing to ride over Worrall’s helmet and not surprisingly that his night was over after a trip to the medical room.

Kildemand gated well in the rerun but was swallowed up by the home duo, Berwick fans fearing another Lincolnshire horror show after Lambert and Luke Harrison raced home in two.

Referee Dave Watters had ignored Zaine Kennedy’s jump in heat one but decided to punish Connor Mountain two races later, the red lights coming on as Kemp and Hume filled the first two places. The former Scorpion was untroubled again in the rerun but Mountain took advantage of his reprieve to pass Hume and briefly lead the race before being pushed back into second.

Jack Smith and Cook initially looked set for a share of four behind Jake Allen but Lambert eventually found a way past the reserve to split the Bandits’ pairing. Kildemand had a great battle with Mountain for second place in five, the pair trading places before the Dane moved onto the inside line and finally clinched second place behind Declan Kennedy.

Guest Tom Spencer made a great trap in seven to briefly join Cook at the front only to be taken out by Jake Allen who was excluded. In the rerun Cook failed to react when the tapes rose and the home fans were left howling with indignation when the referee ruled a starting gate malfunction, the Cumbrian finally taking the flag at the third attempt.

Allen was again fast from the traps in eight but Kemp was pressuring him when the race was halted, Harrison roaring past Hume but going into the first bend far too hot and falling after a pirouette, the Australian clearing off in the rerun.

All but seven points on the night came from Berwick’s three heat leaders and that lack of input from the lower order was underlined in heat eight as Lambert sped clear and Zaine Kennedy picked off first Smith and then Sam Hagon who had made his best start of the night.

Cook and Spencer seemed on course for a share of the spoils in nine, the reserve riding a fearless second bend only to slide off and gift Declan Kennedy, who had been left hopelessly at the tapes, a point.

Kemp rode a fearless line around the home pairing to win ten while Kildemand and Allen produced a stunning first lap, trading first place before the Bandits’ number one stamped his authority on proceedings.

The much anticipated tactical substitution finally arrived in heat 12 and it looked to be a masterstroke as Kemp and Hume left the home pairing well adrift. Declan Kennedy stuck to the inside line and took full advantage as the Berwick duo got in each other’s way, salt being rubbed into the wound when Kemp was caught on the line by Lambert.

In fairness that setback seemed to galvanise the Bandits, Kildemand and Cook showing their younger team-mates how team riding should be done. Kemp bounced back from the tac sub debacle with a forceful overtake of Mountain in the penultimate heat and must have been in team manager Stewart Dickson’s mind as he considered his heat 15 options.

In the end he went for experience and was rewarded when Cook again took the wide line around Lambert. Kildemand had to battle hard for the third place producing a forceful overtake which prompted a bout of post-race discussion with Allen.

A meeting which had threatened to drift away from Berwick was at least brought under control. They will believe they can pull ten points back on home shale but to do so will need a greater contribution from the lower order.

Boss Dickson summed it up after heat 15: “A decent effort but three riders not beating an opponent was poor.”

Scorpions: Steve Worrall withdrawn injured, Zaine Kennedy 8+3, Declan Kennedy 7, Connor Mountain 10, Jake Allen 7+1, Luke Harrison 5+2, Simon Lambert 13

Bandits: Peter Kildemand 10, Sam Hagon 1, Danyon Hume 4+1, Drew Kemp 11, Craig Cook 12+1, Tom Spencer 1, Jack Smith 1