05-07-2025
Cook back for Bandits as Monarchs visit
Berwick Bandits and Edinburgh Monarchs will hope for better weather at Shielfield Park on Saturday (tapes up 7pm) after rain washed out their scheduled clash at Armadale on Friday.
Monarchs' bosses made an early call to postpone the eagerly-awaited derby after heavy overnight rain and a forecast which threatened more throughout the day.
However, there is an improved forecast in the Borders on Saturday and the victory could propel the winners into the play-off places.
Both sides are at full strength and Berwick will be hoping that Drew Kemp and Sam Hagon (pictured by Keith Hamblin) can bring their midweek Premiership form to bear as the Bandits bid to maintain their 100 per cent home record in the Cab Direct Championship.
Kemp scored ten points in Leicester's comfortable win over King's Lynn while British under-21 champion Hagon posted a top league best eight point return for Birmingham at Sheffield.
The pair have become firm favourites with the Shielfield Park supporters thanks to a series of thrilling from-the-back victories.
Looking back, Berwick won an early-season BSN Series clash between the sides by four points, but Monarchs were missing big-scoring Swede Victor Palovaara and captain Paco Castagna along with Jonatan Grahn who makes his Shielfield Park debut.
Berwick will be hoping that their reserves Dayle Wood and Jack Smith can put Grahn and 16-year-old Australian Jordy Loftus under pressure and Bandits also welcome back Craig Cook, a former Edinburgh captain, and Peter Kildemand who missed their last outing, a win over Redcar Bears.
Bandits: Craig Cook, Sam Hagon, Danyon Hume, Drew Kemp, Peter Kildemand, Dayle Wood, Jack Smith
Monarchs: Victor Palovaara, Kye Thomsen, Justin Sedgmen, Paco Castagna, Michael Palm Toft, Jonatan Grahn, Jordy Loftus
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