Final countdown after magnificent Bandits win

     R.E.D Bandits, powered by STS      55

Poole Pirates        35

They’ve only gone and done it!

37 years  of frustration, hurt and the odd embarrassment consigned to the dustbin of history as skipper Jye Etheridge and Jack Smith combined for a 5-1 in heat 14 which rubberstamped Berwick’s place in the 2026 MAXICab Knockout Cup Final.

And it couldn’t really have been more fitting that it was two members of the mid-order boiler-room that sparked huge celebrations – and more than a few tears of joy – in the sun-drenched crowd.

A scorecard which ranged from top scorer Nick Morris (11) to “lowest” Jordan Jenkins (7+2) underlines the fact that it was a night for six heroes to write their names into the history books alongside the legends of the club’s pot-hunting past.

But there were pivotal moments before passage to Plymouth could be booked. Morris made two big statement wins over Poole number one Richard Lawson in the fast and fearless style which is his trademark.

Lawson, along with 16-year-old Cooper Rushen, delayed what was becoming increasingly inevitable in the early stages of a night when the tension showed in a spate of false starts and warnings from referee Dave Watters.

Lawson and Etheridge were the first in the referee’s naughty book in heat one, they wouldn’t be the last.

Smith put down his marker for the night by winning heat two, Berwick getting a stroke of luck when guest Simon Lambert slid off, gifting Jenkins the point which levelled things on the night.

Having halved the aggregate deficit in the early races they blew it away in an eventful heat four. The groans as Jenkins destroyed the tapes turned to cheers of joy as replacement, Smith, roared around the fence to join Morris for the first 5-1 of the night.

Poole skipper Zach Cook has had some horror nights at Shielfield and he conceded a second 5-1 in heat six, this time to Peter Kildemand and Etheridge.

Morris was ultra brave in his choice of lines to squeeze past Lewis Kerr on the back straight in seven but with Rushen away in the distance, Poole clawed two points back in what would turn out to be their last heat advantage of the night.

Berwick’s appetite for victory was huge, a superb first bend from Etheridge – following the Morris line around the bags – fired him to the front and Jenkins never gave up the chase, making a long straight off bend two in heat eight and powering underneath Lambert as it continued to rain 5-1s.

Lambert was added to the ref’s warned list in nine before Cook did finally gate and managed a shared heat to stem the home tide.

The meeting came to the boil in a tempestuous heat 10 which began with Rushen snaking off gate one, aiming a kick at Etheridge and then shouldering him to the deck in turn one before running Kildemand to the fence and forcing the Dane to drop his bike and avoid a bad crash.

All-four-back was a slightly generous but not too controversial call but referee Watters was almost immediately back in front of the TV monitors as the rerun again saw Rushen kick out and this time take Etheridge wide into the bend two bags, a glance over his shoulder caught by the cameras probably sealing the teenager’s fate.

Watters had still to make his decision – exclusion for the Pirate – when Etheridge attempted his own retribution, clipping the youngster on the shoulder as he rode past the scene of the carnage he’d caused.

When tempers calmed Kerr won the race at the third attempt and it became clear the Pirates were going to go down whinging as their grip on the trophy disappeared and they were en-route to their biggest away defeat since 2017.

Another point disappeared in a sea of sparks as Kyle Newman’s chain spectacularly detached at full revs spoiling what looked a nailed-on heat advantage behind the ever-competitive Lawson.

Their night finally imploded in 12 as Lambert twitched again at the start and was excluded and his replacement, Newman, failed to make the two minute time allowed. The Poole reserve then tried to start off 15 metres only to be sent back to the pits where his team manager was given a quick rules refresher.

Kerr saved some face with his second race win but it was just delaying the inevitable, the crowd noise rising as hope gave way to joyous reality.

Morris had them on his feet as he inflicted defeat on Lawson for the second time in heat 13 before Etheridge got revenge over Rushen in the best way, leaving him well behind on the start line and then leading Smith home for the 5-1 which meant that the party could really start.

The only thing missing was a Kildemand race win and the classy Dane put that right as he traded elbows with Rushen in heat 15 and then sailed away from Lawson in his trademark style.

It was a classy end to a classic Bandits’ cup performance.

Those under 40 no longer have to wonder what it was like to watch Berwick in a Cup Final, they’re going to find out for themselves at least once in 2026.

Bandits: Peter Kildemand 10+1, Jye Etheridge 10+1, Victor Palovaara 9, R/R Lasse Fredriksen, Nick Morris 11, Jack Smith 8+4, Jordan Jenkins 7+2

Pirates: Richard Lawson 12, R/R for Fraser Bowes, Lewis Kerr 7, Cooper Rushen 7+1, Zach Cook 6, Simon Lambert 3, Kyle Newman 2

Pictures: Keith Hamblin