Pickering’s the man to step in as Bandits take on the Pirates
BERWICK boss Stewart Dickson didn’t need to search for a guest to replace the injured Lewis Kerr this weekend – one stepped forward to volunteer!
The Bandits have used Richard Lawson to good effect as a home stand-in for broken ankle victim Kerr but, with the Cumbrian leading the opposition Poole Pirates at Shielfield Park tonight, a different approach was needed.
“Josh Pickering was in touch with me straight away asking if there was any chance of the booking,” Dickson revealed.
“With Richard otherwise engaged he is the obvious man for the job anyway and very much raring to go.”
It will reignite an already fierce on-track rivalry between the respective Edinburgh and Poole number ones which began at Shielfield early last month when Pickering threatened almost singlehandedly to steer the Monarchs to victory.
Included in his 16-point haul that night were two race wins over Lawson but, crucially, the Bandits’ guest fended off Pickering’s challenge to join home skipper Rory Schlein for a match-winning 5-1 in heat 15.
Pickering got some revenge last week when he was the only
Edinburgh rider to take a point off Lawson in the Knockout Cup quarter-final first leg at Wimborne Road.
A 13-point haul restricted Poole’s lead to 49-40 and Edinburgh were looking to claw back that deficit last night before the pair face-off again in the Borders tonight.
“Two of the league’s best riders going head to head just adds another element to what already looks an intriguing opening league match for both sides,” Dickson added.
Lawson and Tom Brennan aside, the Poole team lacks experience of the pacy Berwick circuit with reserves Sam Hagon and Max Perry the most race-ready after visiting in the National Development League.
This is only Poole’s fourth-ever visit to Shielfield Park, their previous encounters – including Berwick’s 1989 Knockout Cup final triumph – being raced during their 16-year spell at Berrington Lough.
Jye Etheridge is fit to return for Berwick after back and neck problems sidelined him against Scunthorpe and Dickson says that Berwick’s engine room needs to fire against the Pirates.
“As always Poole are many people’s pre-season favourites and they are a good side,” he said.
“But I also think there are areas where we can hurt them.
“This is one of those meetings that you just want to win to set the tone for the season.
“It doesn’t matter whether it’s by two points or ten, just get the points on the board.”
The action starts at 7pm tonight. Match day tickets and cash admission is £20 (£18 concessions and students). Accompanied under-16s are admitted free and the meeting is also available to watch on tv.berwickspeedway.com for £11.99.
BANDITS: Josh Pickering, Danyon Hume, Jye Etheridge, Drew Kemp, Rory Schlein, Freddy Hodder, Bastian Borke PIRATES: Richard Lawson, Tobias Thomsen, Tom Brennan, Zach Cook, Ben Cook, Sam Hagon, Max Perry