STOKE Easy Rider Potters fell to home and away defeats to Berwick last week as the Bandits cemented their position at the top of the table.

Stoke put up a good effort at Berwick to lose 51-39 but had no answer in the return on Sunday as the visitors dominated the meeting.

Berwick went in front in heat one with a 4-2 scoreline and were 11 points up at one stage against a team that had too many weak links.

Team boss John Adams said: 'I think they were hungrier than us and we possibly saw the 2005 league champions here.'

Alan Mogridge and guest James Wright scored 27 of the Potters 46 point total as some of the home riders struggled to adjust.

Robbie Kessler had a fall in heat five and was walking stiffly afterwards.

'I don't know if something went wrong on the bike because it started to seize up in my next race,' said the Germany international.

Stoke need to regroup before a busy period. They travel to Hull tonight and then have three meetings on the trot over the Bank Holiday period - at home to Rye House on Saturday, home to Edinburgh on Sunday and away at Rye House on Monday.

Meanwhile, Stoke SAS Spitfires racked up their biggest win of the season when they beat Sittingbourne 63-29. Barrie Evans will represent Stoke in the Conference League Riders Championship on Saturday.