IT WAS jokingly suggested that Berwick Bandits couldn't beat a carpet, such was the appalling start they made to this season.
But the border outfit are having the last laugh at the moment as they currently lead the Premier League. The Bandits' revival was sparked by an amazing 61-29 away win against the Fen Tigers at Mildenhall.
They visit Armadale tonight to face Edinbu
rgh Monarchs in the first leg of the Premier League Knockout Cup. And, while the Bandits, who host the deciding tie at Shielfield Park tomorrow evening, feel they have a chance of springing a major shock, Monarchs boss John Campbell is unimpressed by their reversal of fortunes and insisted: "I can't see anything about their team which is going to cause us a problem." Both teams have made enforced changes to their line-ups.
Monarchs will use guests, James Grieves and Lee Dicken as cover for William Lawson and Andrew Tully, who are on British under-21 final duty at Lakeside.
Bandits will be without in-form Adrian Rymel who is competing in the European Championships and will operate the rider-replacement facility for their absent star.
"Without Rymel it is doubtful that Berwick have the strength to rattle up a big score round Armadale," added Campbell.
Certainly Monarchs have made a cracking start to their 2008 campaign.
They have already beaten Berwick home and away in the Premier Trophy, but it was the Capital side's excellent 45-45 draw at King's Lynn last week which provided tangible evidence they will be no pushovers in the chase for the championship.
Campbell, who was once again impressed with the efforts of Swede Thomas Jonasson, enthused: "We didn't go down there with any hopes other than to put on a good show and get a reasonable score.
"Our team is good enough to get a reasonable score anywhere.
"But I didn't think we'd run King's Lynn as close as we did. And when we got to the stage of drawing with them it was annoying we didn't actually win the meeting because we certainly had the chances to do so.
"Everybody and anybody in our squad is capable of scoring points.
"King's Lynn boss Buster Chapman complained he couldn't get his track for his own riders. It seemed fine to me. But, if Buster does get it right – meaning lots of clay to make it exceptionally grippy – then King's Lynn will take some stopping. "We visited them at the right time. It was our best display in a long time.
"There was a lot of passing and it was mostly our boys passing the King's Lynn's riders. Our whole team showed what they were capable of that night."
There is no question that Berwick are huge underdogs, but their chirpy gaffer Peter Waite praised his team to the skies following their home victory over Sheffield Tigers last weekend.
"We hit the big time with that victory. Sheffield are a very experienced team who ride our place very well but we conquered them with ease. I just hope we can keep this form going."
The addition of Elite League ace Henning Bager and some impressive scoring from Hungarian Norbert Magosi and Finn Tero Aarnio have shored the Bandits up.
Campbell added: "If we win both legs well and fine, but it's qualifying for the second round which counts."
If Monarchs progress they will face the winners of Fen Tigers v Redcar.
It's a big weekend for Monarchs who also travel to Glasgow Tigers on Sunday for their final Premier Trophy engagement.
Monarchs need to score just 25 points to reach the semi-finals for only the second time during their Armadale reign, as northern group winners.
Monarchs remain in the silverware hunt on three fronts but Campbell refuses to get carried away over talk of another league crown in the club's Diamond Jubilee season.
"Crucially and critically it comes down to injuries and how good a replacement you can find if you get them. If this team runs for the whole campaign we'll be right at the top for sure."
The full article contains 694 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
