Anderson’s Quality Butchers Berwick Bandits 55 Newport Wasps 38 (Premier League) The Berwick Bandits remained at the top of the Premier League after soundly defeating the Newport Wasps at Shielfield Park last night. Following nearly 20 hours of unsettled weather with overnight heavy rain the track stood up surprisingly well but was described as tricky and unpredictable, but it did give a full meeting to view. The conditions seemed to have unsettled one or two of the visitors, however, particularly Craig Watson who’s three point haul was a million miles from his usual Berwick showings, whilst by comparison, Paul Clews revelled in the conditions to excel with a whacking 16 points. For the home side, Norbert Magosi, now in the main body of the Bandits, struggled early on to look a shadow of his former self, whilst new boy, Henning Bager shook off his former engine blow-ups to take three superbly won wins. Tero Aarnio, now down at reserve, took his best tally as a Bandit so far as his fellow reserve Adam McKinna put in some on his most determined and forceful 2008 laps to battle well with good quality opposition and pass people to score well in a satisfying night for the young Scot. Unfortunately the high-scoring Wasps reserve, Nick Simmons crashed out of the meeting in Heat 10 when he slid at speed into the second bend fencing to pick up concussion and a ride to the local Infirmary. HEAT ONE: Rymel made a superb gate to lead on bend one, as Aarnio tucked into second place. Watson, by comparison, made a complete hash of the start and rode nervously and tentatively throughout to finish a very poor last. Clews got to grips with the track from the off, passing Aarnio on the last lap after a cracking battle (4-2 / 4-2). HEAT TWO: Hart took the initiative on bend one to lead well, but slowed dramatically over that opening lap and looked well out of sorts to end up well to the rear very swiftly as Simmons powered up to take a big win (3-3 / 7-5). HEAT THREE: Bager showed the crowd what he was made of by taking a firm lead and battled off successfully a brave challenge from Truminski on his outside on bend two. Newport’s Pole did find a way past Bager on the second lap, but the Bandit roared up the inside line on lap three (bend two) to regain and keep a hold on his lead to win (3-3 10-8) HEAT FOUR: gave Makovsky his chance for a big gate which he took well while McKinna rode a tempestuous and thrilling race, challenging Truminski incessantly on the final two laps in an effort that paid off with a huge final push on the last two bends to pip the Wasp for two points (5-1 / 15-9). HEAT FIVE: saw Newport’s Watson and Clews take advantage of a slightly improving tricky track by shooting out to lead early on ahead of the sleepy Berwickers at the gate in an easy Wasps maximum (1-5 / 16-14). HEAT SIX: With Rymel leading the way McKinna got stuck in again enjoying another superb four-lap battle with Truminski just missing out on pipping the Pole again on the line in a grandstand finish (4-2 / 20-16). HEAT SEVEN: Makovsky away on bend one, joined by Aarnio on the outside of bend 2 (5-1 / 25-17). HEAT EIGHT: Magosi at last found his old form to lead off bend one, but Clews is no slouch as he wound in the Hungarian to take advantage of an error made by Magosi on the first bend ion lap four to lead and win (2-4 / 27-21). HEAT NINE: saw Magosi hit the tapes and replaced by Mckinna then result from the gate (4-2 / 31-23) HEAT 10: (re-run) with Aarnio and Rymel well out in front Simmons got into major trouble coming off bend two and slamming into the fence at great speed requiring medical attention on the track although did clamber into the ambulance under his own steam. Following 20 minutes of inspection Simmons was withdrawn with concussion whilst in the re-run the Bandits took control early on for a maximum (5-1 / 36-24). Heat 11: Watson hit the front first and looked strong until Aarnio whipped round him and Makovsky doing likewise ½ a lap later on the opening circuit to relegate Wato to the back when he retired from the race (5-1 / 41-25). HEAT 12: Both Bandits were out in front on bend one, but Mroz forced his way under McKinna on bend two before McKinna’s primary chain snapped one lap later (3-3 / 44-28). HEAT 13: saw Rymel excluded by the referee when Watson fell on bend one of the second lap for unfair riding, but the Bandit argued the Wasps had slowed so much in front of him that he had no where to go but take his leg away. In the re run Watson and Truminski gated ahead of Makovsky by Berwick’s Czech took a big dive under Watson to pass him and then passed Truminski on lap two to win by a huge distance (3-3 / 47-31). HEAT 14: had Clews out for double points as a tactical ride, and he duly went about making a fast gate, and holding on to the lead for 6 points in a well spread race (3-6 / 50-37). HEAT 15: suggested nerves were getting to Rymel who went through the tapes to receive a 15m handicap from where he raced hard to pass Truminski down the back straight on lap 2 before sneaking round Clews on the 4th bend to again bring the house down (5-1 / 55-38) Andersons Quality Butchers Berwick Bandits 55 1. Adrian Rymel © 3,3,3,X,2* = 11+1 2. Guglielmo Franchetti – Rider Replacement 3. Henning Bager 3,1,3,3 = 10 4. Norbert Magosi 0,0,2,E,1* = 3+1 5. Michal Makovsky 3,3,2*,3,3 = 14+1 6. Tero Aarnio ® 1,2,2*,2*,3,2 = 12+2 7. Adam McKinna ® 1*,2*,1,0,R,1 = 5+2 Newport Wasps 38 1. Craig Watson R,2*,R,1* = 3+2 2. Paul Clews 2,3,3,1,6^,1 = 16 3. Marek Mroz 2,0,1,2 = 5 4. Tony Atkin – Rider Replacement 5. Sebastian Truminski © 1*,1,2,2,2,0 = 8+1 6. Jerran Hart ® 0,R,0,1*,0 = 1+1 7. Nick Simmons 3,0,1,1,Fx,N = 5