PK guides Bandits into semi-finals

Workington Comets      48

R.E.D Bandits, powered by STS      42

(Bandits win 100-80 on aggregate)

Progress into a first KO Cup semi-final in 21 years was efficiently achieved in the Cumbrian sunshine on Sunday afternoon.

If victory eluded the Bandits on the day there was also no threat of a calamitous meltdown as skipper Jye Etheridge’s heat 11 third place confirmed cup progress for the first time since 2015 and a semi-final spot last enjoyed in 2005.

Peter Kildemand won that race and was the only visitor in double figures on an afternoon dominated by former Berwick favourite Jonas Jeppesen who stormed to a largely untroubled six-ride maximum.

Kildemand did hold him at bay for all but the last two bends of heat 15 before eventually conceding the flag, indeed the only way he could slow down his countryman was to playfully pull out his cutout on the cooling down lap.

While Troy Batchelor and Tate Zischke redeemed themselves after a torrid Saturday showing in support of Jeppesen and Mitch Cluff proved to be an inspired guest choice; for Berwick it was a case of solid and steady with Etheridge, Victor Palovaara and Lasse Fredriksen all scoring seven points, covering from a surprisingly low return from Nick Morris who revealed after the meeting that he was suffering from a virus.

In Jordy Loftus Berwick also had a competitive guest choice as they adjusted to life without the injured Reid Battye. They seemed to have it all under control with a series of shared heats as Workington managed to pull only two of the 26 point gap back by heat six.

But suddenly it was a little less comfortable as first Jeppesen and then Cluff passed Morris for a 5-1. Workington seemed to be heading for another maximum next heat but Fredriksen had other ideas slicing up the inside of Batchelor and Palovaara catching Dayle Wood to turn the heat in Berwick’s favour.

Cluff was proving his Edinburgh critics wrong and looked set to win heat eight only to find unwanted grip on the back straight, almost clattering the fence, Etheridge taking full advantage to go through for the win, Cluff managing to wrest back second place from Monarchs’ reserve colleague Loftus.

Morris went from first to third in a disastrous heat nine as Zischke and Batchelor charged and again Berwick looked to be in trouble as Jeppesen and Cluff led most of the following heat. But in case anyone thought that the visitors were just going through the motions, Fredriksen and Palovaara raced right to the flag and both passed the Australian on the run to the line.

Having secured the tie it was a question of who was going to win on the day, Kildemand battling all the way to split Jeppesen and Batchelor in a superb heat 13.

Fredriksen then gave the Bandits an outside chance of completing the leg double as he successfully repelled a serious off attack from Zischke, Loftus keeping Wood at bay which meant that a 5-1 in 15 would secure a draw.

Kildemand did his part for three and three-quarter laps only for Jeppesen to sweep past while Etheridge was unable to get the better of Batchelor.

“It’s no surprise that Workington looked as if they had a point to prove after Saturday night,” team manager Stewart Dickson said after the meeting.

“We were focussed and professional about it and got the job done. It’s been a long time since the club reached the latter stages of the

Cup but we are certainly not there to make up the numbers. It was a solid all-round performance and we need to keep it going.

“Next weekend we can make our mark in the BSN series. Obviously Reid was a big miss and our thoughts were very much with him as we prepared for today.

“Hopefully the win helped to cheer him up.”

Comets: Jonas Jeppesen 18, Mitch Cluff 4+1, Tate Zischke 11+1, Troy Batchelor 12, Dayle Wood 3, Jamie Etherington 0

Bandits: Peter Kildemand 10+1, Jye Etheridge 7+1, Victor Palovaara 7, Lasse Fredriksen 7+1, Nick Morris 4, Jack Smith 2+2, Jordy Loftus 5+1