Bandits cursing bad luck with injuries

WITH Nick Morris out with concussion, it was backs against the wall for Berwick Bandits as they hosted Redcar, but guest man Josh Grajczonek did an admirable job in Heat One winning in a 3-3. But Coty Garcia and Danny Ayres made great gates in Heat Two to take an away maximum 1-5 putting Redcar four up

Two 2-4s later and the Bears were eight head and looking good. Another 3-3 came in the sixth with another good win from Grajczonek as Joe Jacobs battled well with Garcia at the back before a third share followed in the seventh won inspirationally by captain Doolan, making the score 17-25 Jacobs made a brilliant gate in Heat Eight to lead for two laps until Jonas B Andersen BERWICK BANDITS REDCAR BEARS 40 52

whipped past him off bend four to extend the visitors’ lead to 10 points – allowing a tactical ride to be used.

That tactical move went to Howe in Heat Nine and for a while he led for six points until Wright wound on the power to pass Howe well – restricting his points to four in a Bandits’ 5-3. That was.followed in Heat 10 by a magnificent zip up the middle of Grajczonek and Jacobs off the second bend to lead and another 3-3 moving the scores on to 27-35.

Eheridge and Anderson collided on the opening bend to Heat 11 with an all-four call back, but both needed medical attention

Etheridge was sent to hospital with suspected chest and rib inju- ries, but Andersen took his place in the re-run and won after a hard case from Doolan in a 2-4 moving the Bears’ lead to 29-39.

A 1-5 in Heat 12 gave Redcar a second win on Bandits’ shale this season, and with another Bandit on the injury list it only added to the massive headaches already suffered by Berwick’s management.

A gutted Gary Havelock said afterwards: “I’m past the point of trying to understand whats going on with our luck and injuries.

“We just have to make the best of a very bad lot and hope luck starts to return our way soon.”