Bandits' boss Peter Waite decided to lay the new red surface after two successive home defeats against Newcastle and Glasgow.
Against the Monarchs his side responded to the criticism of not providing enough race winners so far this season - only 11 in their first three meetings - by providing the first two over the line in the opening heats.
But then the rain came and referee Stuart Wilson called a halt to proceedings.
"The track looked good and it held up well despite the weather," said Waite. "Adrian Rymel went out in heat one and posted a fast time of 67.2 seconds and then Danny Warwick and Craig Branney made a good start in heat two before Danny fell when he was leading, but the riders were unable to race because of poor visibility.
"It was a big disappointment after all the work we had put in, but now we will just have to wait until this weekend's home meeting against Sheffield to see how good the track really is."
Bandits will be hoping they can make a similar start against the Tigers as they did against the Monarchs, for they will be looking to avenge a 21-point defeat at the hands of the Yorkshire outfit at Owlerton last Thursday.
Michal Makovsky, who top-scored with 13 points, was the only Berwick race-winner when he beat Kyle Legault for double points in heat 14, thereby spoiling the Canadian's maximum efforts in the process.
It was perhaps no more than many Berwick fans expected, for Sheffield has never been the Bandits' happiest of hunting grounds over the years, but the 58-37 scoreline was perhaps not a true reflection of the effort put in by their riders with Waite explaining afterwards:
"Yes we lost, but I think we were much better than the scoreline suggests. Michal was consistent all night and his race win over Legault was a real cracker. Adrian (Rymel) put in a good performance as well, as did Andreas (Bergstrom). And I think that Danny (Warwick) was worth a lot more than his two points."
Warwick gated well but didn't appear to have the top end power. And that is where Bergstrom later offered his team-mate a helping hand. For he reckoned Warwick needed needed a change of carburetter to give him more speed.
Warwick used it for the first time in the abandoned meeting against Edinburgh on Saturday, and whilst he ended up pointless from his only ride it did appear to make a difference.
For Warwick, who travels up from Poole in Dorset for home meetings, flew from the gate in heat two and looked set to record only his second ever victory at Premier League level until he overdid it and fell coming off the pits bend at the end of the third lap.
Meanwhile, Bandit David Meldrum is preparing for a race of a different kind - he is to run in the London Marathon on Sunday, April 23.
Meldrum is running in aid of the Macmillan Cancer Relief Fund and has set a target of £1,800. He is anxious for any speedway fans around the country who may wish to sponsor him to get in touch ASAP.Supporters can also donate on-line by logging on to www.justgiving.com/davidmeldrum.
SHEFIELD TIGERS ............................................58
BERWICK BANDITS ...........................................37
BERWICK were on the receiving end last Thursday when they travelled to take on Sheffield.
The big Owlerton track has never been the happiest of hunting grounds for the Bandits and so it proved again on this occasion as they produced only one of the 15 race winners, when Michal Makovsky won in a double-pointed tactical ride in heat 14 following a tremendous tussle with Kyle Legault.
Andres Bergstrom also took double points (four) from heat nine and Adrian Rymel was also more consistent with four second places in his return of nine. But the remainder of the side struggled and contributed only seven race points between them.
Sheffield were always in control of proceedings. Andre Compton raced to a paid 15 maximum and Ricky Ashworth won his first four races before running a last in heat 15. Legault was the surprise package, only being denied his full-house when he was beaten by Makovsky in the penultimate heat.
Sheffield - A Compton 14+1, Ashworth 12, Legault 11, B Compton 6+1, Wilson 6, Sanchez 5, Cooper 4+2. Berwick - Makovsky 13+1, Rymel 9, Bergstrom 8, Smethills 3+1, Warwick 2, Meldrum 1+1, Branney 1.
The teams are due to meet in the return at Shielfield on Saturday, but before that Berwick will ride at Edinburgh on Friday, also in the Premier Trophy. After all three of Edinburgh's meetings were called off at the weekend it will be the Monarchs' first outing of the season.