Berwick Bandits knew they had one of the hardest of tests on their hands before they arrived at the Premier league leaders, Somerset Rebels and it soon became obvious that their racing was going to be put to the sternest of tests.

Without new signing, Scott Smith who was naturally still recovering from his knee injury from last Saturday night, the Bandits had brought in young Jay Herne as a guest and he did the side proud with five well scored points much to the travelling support’s delight.

Adrian Rymel was top man for Berwick throughout with two wins and a second place tactical ride for four points to his name, with his opening win halting a relentless Somerset run which had seen the score pile up to a disappointing 19-5 at that point.

Rymel joined forces with Norbert Magosi in the fifth race of the night to lead well with Magosi weaving back and forth across the track to block the attempts to pass of the chasing Emil Kramer and Mattias Kroger and grab a vitally important Bandits 1-5.

Unfortunately the Rebels got back on the rails again and won the next four heat by the same score as the opening four, 19-5 as well to hammer Berwick back into the ground, but Magosi again did the Bandits proud by winning Heat 10, a race which saw Jason Doyle hit the dirt on the first bend, with the other racers slowing down expecting a re-run, but the referee didn’t stop the race with Magosi first to realise and jet away to win.

With the match already well and truly out of reach, it was left to a thrilling Heat 15 to give Rymel his last win over Doyle in a superb three lap battle between two riders hell-bent on not giving an inch until Berwick’s Czech eased ahead on the final lap, ending the night with Berwick 24 points adrift.

Berwick Promoter Peter Waite said: “This was not what we wanted, indeed it was far from it, but we’ve now been through the potentially hardest away match for us this year, and now it’s time to get back to winning ways at home next Saturday (24th) against Scunthorpe.”

Somerset Rebels 58
Jason Doyle 3,2*,F,3,2 = 10+1
Jordan Frampton 2*,3,3,2,1* = 11+2
Emil Kramer 3,1,3,3 = 10
Matthias Kroger 2*,0,2*,R = 4+2
Stephan Katt 3,2*,1,1 = 7
Simon Walker ® 3,3,3,3 = 12
Brent Werner ® 2*,1,1,R = 4+1

Andersons’ Quality Butchers Berwick Bandits 34
Adrian Rymel © 1,3,4^,2,3 = 13
Norbert Magosi 0,2*,0,3,0 = 5+1
Michal Makovsky  1,X,1,1,1 = 4
Benny Johansson – Rider Replacement
Tero Aarnio 2,1,1,0,2 = 6
Jay Herne (guest) ® 1,0,0,2,0,2 = 5
Adam McKinna ® 0,0,1,1* = 2+1