Berwck win hands title to Hull.

Elm Bank Berwick Bandits helped presented Hull indirectly with the 2004 Premier League Title on Saturday night by successfully seeing off the excellent challenge of the Workington Comets led by the superbly exciting Lee Smethills, the only Bandit to lower the colours of the previously-thought invincible Simon Stead in an unbelievable Heat 13.

It began a fairly un-inspiring affair, but the points not getting too far apart. In Heat 4 Stead and Berwick's Kristensen clashed on the first bend, the Comet's superior power taking him away from the pack to lead well down the back straight and win well to provide a 3-3 (16-8 overall).

Workington hit back with a 2-4 in Heat 5 with Carl Stonehewer making amends for his awful Heat 1 by scorching away, although Berwick's Pole, Adam Pietraszko tried desperately to get round him on the outside line of bend 2, coming within an inch of the fence. Heart-stopping moment. (18-12)

Heats 6 and 7 were shared taking the running total to 24-18, but in Heat 8 Berwick broke the pattern again with Josef Franc continuing one of his best meetings for weeks by winning in fine style, and his partner Lee Smethills taking 3rd for a 4-2 (28-20) meaning Workington could use a tactical ride nomination, which they did in Heat 9.

Stead was the double-points man, and was passed by Pole Pietraszko in a thrilling pass. Stead fought well behind the Bandit's number 4 but could make no in-roads on him, until Pietraszko either shed a chain, or hit a rut entering bend 3 of lap 4 jolting his hand off the handlebars, straightening him up and sending him careering towards the fence, which he hit at speed side-on, causing him to be thrown halfway over the fence head first where he came to rest half either side of the fence. It looked nasty, and in the morning his ribs and stomach will hurt, no doubt, but he received minimum treatment and carried on with the meeting regardless.

Stead was awarded his 6 points, and his partner Blair Scott got 2nd for a Workington 1-8 taking them to within 1 point of Berwick, 29-28.

Berwick pulled further ahead in Heat 10 with a 5-1 of their own (34-29), followed by two more 3-3s taking the progressive score to 40-35.

Heat 13 brought the house down. With the green light on, Kristensen just dropped the clutch too soon, shooting through the tapes, and duly excluded. His replacement in the tough race against the unbeaten Stead and the powerful Stonehewer was reserve Lee Smethills, and a good Comet advantage was expected, but no one told Smethills of the script!

As the tapes rose, Smethills, off gate 4, shot out it lead into bend 1, with Stead powering beside him, but off two Smethills took the lead on the wide line as Stonehewer retired from the race with a failed engine. Stead challenged hard on every bend, and no one honestly believed Smethills would be able to fend him off at every turn, especially the one off the last bend of the race, yet he did in the race of his career to earn him deserved adoration from the crowd, of both teams. It was a memorable and superbly fine display of skilful speedway, (4-2) (44-37).

The match points were clinched in Heat 14 as Smethills rode like the wind again, in for Branney, although Pietraszko once again rode a race as if he were stuck like glue to the fence boards... scary stuff from the Pole as the resultant 4-2 took the match beyond the Comet's reach... 48-44.

A Comet's 1-5 ended the event giving Berwick 49 and Workington 44.

"What looked like being a not very exciting meeting really warmed up to the end, and Lee Smethills, what a star he is when he gets out in front!" Enthused a thrilled Berwick promoter, Peter Waite afterwards, "Just a shame we could not put more points between us and Workington, for we know all too well at their own track on Monday when we go there, they will be a much stiffer test and the bonus points will be really tough to grab. I just hope we see more of this superb riding from Smethills once again."