Comets block path to cup glory

Workington travel to Shielfield Park tomorrow (Saturday) believing their trident of 2025 Bandits can extend our sorry cup record.

Eight-time finalists and winners of the competition in 1980 and 1989, the R.E.D Bandits have not progressed past the first round of the MAXICab Knockout Cup since 2015.

With in-form Dayle Wood guesting in place of the injured Vinnie Foord alongside Jonas Jeppesen and Craig Cook in the Comets’ line-up in addition to previous Shielfield maximum man Troy Batchelor the Cumbrians believe they can extend that wretched record with the second leg of the tie being raced at the GT Tyres Arena on Sunday (3pm).

But the Bandits go into the tricky tie buoyant after a comfortable victory over the highly-rated Glasgow Tigers last week and safe in the knowledge and that they have won twice in their three visits to Workington.

Despite that they will look to travel with a significant advantage from Saturday’s home leg which starts at (7pm).

Lasse Fredriksen makes his delayed home debut after missing the Glasgow victory and they hope that winter recruit Reid Battye can repeat his home debut heroics against the Tigers when the hugely-talented but relatively inexperienced Australian grabbed a paid 15 return.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better debut but that’s in the past and I have to focus on a new challenge this week,” Battye said.

“I’ve been in Berwick around a month now and already know that the cup is an important competition for the supporters, it is a major part of the club’s history. It would be good to give them something to shout about after the support they gave us against Glasgow.

“For me it’s a case of another new track to learn on Sunday but there is plenty of experience in the side to help me out with set-ups and advice on how to ride it best.”

That includes Bandits skipper, Jye Etheridge who spent last season in Workington colours, Swede Victor Palovaara whose 15-point haul at the GT Tyres Arena set up Edinburgh’s progress in last year’s competition while Dane Peter Kildemand scored a paid maximum on his only previous visit, Berwick’s league win there last season.

“Before we even think about how big a lead we want for Sunday we have to make sure there are no mistakes on Saturday and get the first leg won,” team manager Stewart Dickson said.

“We need to be on our game because most of the Workington side rides Shielfield Park well but the same can be said for us at Northside.”

Jack Smith who is recovering after being involved in a major crash involving former Bandits Rider of the Year Connor Coles at Buxton on Sunday. If he is unable to ride then Berwick will call up a guest replacement.

Tickets for Saturday’s first leg are available Here

The meeting will also be livestreamed by BanditsTV, Buy stream

Berwick: Peter Kildemand, Jye Etheridge, Victor Palovaara, Lasse Fredriksen, Nick Morris, Jack Smith, Reid Battye

Workington: Jonas Jeppesen, Niklas H Jakobsen, Troy Batchelor, Tate Zischke, Craig Cook, Dayle Wood, Jamie Etherington