Magnificent PK, JJ hunt down Tigers

R.E.D Bandits, powered by STS      46

Glasgow Tigers    44

Peter Kildemand and Jordan Jenkins spectacularly combined to maintain  the Bandits’ pristine home record, overcoming an eight point deficit and inflicting more woe on misfiring Glasgow in the process.

In their first home meeting for six weeks a misfiring Berwick side dug deep to send Glasgow home with nothing to show for their efforts. Kildemand looked rusty as he ran a first race last but looks can be deceiving as that was a mere blemish followed by five typically classy victories including the vital heat 15.

In contrast Jenkins, signed midweek as a replacement for the injured Reid Battye, announced his arrival in the Borders with two emphatic race wins. He continued to pick up points throughout the evening and, crucially,  linked up with Jack Smith for a 5-1 in heat 14 which put the home side ahead for the first time in the match.

Classy Kildemand never looked like being bettered ested in the last heat decider and, despite team-mate Nick Morris suffering a mechanical failure which meant his throttle was only working at a one-third capacity, the main Dane brought the points home.

Morris had a bizarre night, his efforts worth much more than the four point return but, along with Victor Palovaara and Lasse Fredriksen, his lack of scoring looked like being costly as Berwick’s three heat leaders managed a solitary point from the opening four heats.

That batch of races was particularly cruel on Palovaara and Lasse Fredriksen who conceded two 5-1s thanks in no small part to the latest refereeing controversy.

The men and women in the referee’s box are put under increasing scrutiny these days with every Championship meeting filmed and livestreamed. Had referee Seth Perkin called for a video replay in heat five he would have seen Chris Harris clearly touch the tapes. Instead he let the race progress, Bomber picking off first Fredriksen and then Palovaara to join Sam Hagon for a heat five 5-1, his tapes’ indiscretion recognised but not directly punished by a post-race warning.

Team manager Stewart Dickson was in no mood to let proceedings run away from him, throwing Kildemand in as a heat seven tactical substitute and being rewarded when Morris powered his way past Leon Flint to join the Dane for a 5-1 which cut the deficit to four points.

Sam Hagon and Jenkins, two of British speedway’

s most chilled racers around, were involved in a no elbows-barred start line confrontation of heat six, the former Bandit initially triumphing only to be moved aside by home skipper Jye Etheridge.

Battle of the sixes … Jack Smith and Mario Hausl

After a shared heat nine – Kyle Howarth holding off Jenkins’ charge – the scores were level after 10 when, Kildemand and Etheridge gated on a 5-1, Flint forcing his way past his former team-mate but, crucially. the Berwick skipper just fended off Kevin Juhl Pedersen’s run to the chequered flag.

Harris produced a classic move off the fourth bend to round Morris in heat 11, Hagon proving once again what an accomplished rider he is around Shielfield by claiming the third place which put the Tigers back in front.

Palovaara finally came to the party helping Jenkins share heat 12 behind the impressive Flint and it was honours even again in heat 13. It was not without incident though, Kildemand leading Harris and Howarth but clattering the fourth bend fence and miraculously staying upright.

Jack Smith swapped bikes before heat 14 and it proved to be a match-winning decision as he and Jenkins shot from the gate, Smith fending off the concerted efforts of Juhl Pedersen and Mario Hausl for an unexpected 5-1 which put Berwick ahead for the first time.

There was plenty of drama in the lead-up to heat 15, Harris’ bike failing as it made its way to the start. Rather surprisingly he didn’t have a second ready to race and was forced to hop aboard Howarth’s machine for the do or die final heat.

Kildemand was away and gone but the drama was unfolding behind him, Morris forcing his way past Harris only for the roller which controls his clutch to drop off. Frustratingly that allowed Harris past top join Flint but with Kildemand a classy mile in front it was the Berwick fans in a packed grandstand who rose to their feet to celebrate a classic Bandits’ victory.

Bandits: Peter Kildemand 15, Jye Etheridge 6, Victor Palovaara 2, Lasse Fredriksen 3+1, Nick Morris 4+1, Jack Smith 3+1, Jordan Jenkins 13+1

Tigers: Chris Harris 11+2, Sam Hagon 7, Leon Flint 11, Kevin Juhl Pedersen 3+1, Kyle Howarth 8+1, Mario Hausl 3+1, Freddy Hodder 1+1

Pictures: Keith Hamblin