Kolodziej supershow can't save Reading.

A Janusz Kolodziej 16-point haul wasn't enough to stop the Reading Racers from going down to a 53-37 defeat to Berwick Bandits on Saturday night. A remarkable score under normal circumstances but all the more noteworthy as it was the Pole's first look at Sheildfield Park.

After a shared opening heat Berwick took an early lead with a maximum 5-1 heat advantage in heat two. Kolodziej won heat three then Berwick extended the lead to 15-9. Racers guest Garry Stead beat Carlos Villar for second place, but with Gary Flint failing to score, the heat finished 4-2 in favour of the home side.

A 5-1 in heat six and another 4-2 in heat seven saw Berwick open up a comfortable 27-15 lead. Kolodziej dropped his first point of the night in the seventh heat, but pushed Berwick's heat winner Claus Kristensen all the way to the chequered flag.

Heat eight saw Reading bring in Andrew Appleton as their first tactical substitute, in an attempt to reduce the arrears. But it was teammate Paul Clews who won the heat, with Appleton third behind Bandits reserve Carlos Villar.

Another tactical substitute in heat nine (Kolodziej) resulted in a drawn heat, with the Pole and Stead splitting the Berwick pairing of Makovsky and Villar, to leave Bandits well in front at 32-22. Reading did get a 4-2 in heat ten with Kolodziej winning ahead of David Meldrum, Clews and Josef Franc, who retired with bike problems whilst in third place.

Heat eleven saw the home side take another 5-1 to lead 39-27 with Kristensen and Bentley defeating Appleton and Clews. Kolodziej again showed his liking for the Berwick track when winning the race but with team mate Danny Norton bringing up the rear Reading had to settle for a drawn heat and a deficit of 42-30.

Berwick made sure of the victory on the night with two successive 5-1's in heat thirteen and fourteen, and took a 52-32 lead into the final heat. The Racers regained some pride with a 5-1 in heat 15 through Kolodziej and Appleton.
Reading must now prepare for their home fixture tomorrow [Monday] night when they take on the Somerset Rebels in Premier League action. After the main event, the club's youngsters (Reading Ravens) will take on Swindon in a 13-heat Conference Challenge match.

Neighbours Reading Football Club have accepted an invitation to the meeting and will send along around tsenty of their players and staff. Also Reading continue to operate the 'Kids for a Quid' scheme for all their home meetings in August. Providing there are accompanied by an adult, children aged 14 or under will be admitted for just ?1.