BEARS EDGE OUT PIRATES

REDCAR edged out Poole 46-44 in a classic Cab Direct Championship clash at the ECCO Arena which went right down to the wire.

A close contest saw the Pirates strike the first 5-1 of the night in Heat 3, and it took until Heat 12 for the Bears to regain the advantage with maximum points when second-placed Lewis Kerr had mechanical trouble on the last lap.

Guest Antti Vuolas and impressive reserve Ace Pijper put Redcar four points up with a 4-2 in Heat 14 and this proved sufficient to defend as Charles Wright split Richard Lawson and Zach Cook in the decider, although the Pirates did more than enough for the aggregate point.

Wright scored 12+1 for Redcar with Danny King on 10 and Pijper contributed a vital 8+2, whilst Cook collected 12+1 for Poole and Lawson had 11+1, winning his last three rides after changing bikes having made a slow start to the meeting.

Bears boss Gavin Parr said: “We knew it was going to be tough, Poole are an excellent side and they always ride really well here.

“All in all I’ve got to be really pleased. Antti came in and got better and better as the night went on, but the special mention goes to Ace because he beat everybody that I needed him to beat, and more to be fair, so overall it was an excellent night.”

Lawson said: “Just a couple of things went against us tonight but let’s take nothing away from Redcar, they worked hard for the win and I am sure if you asked them they would have their own ifs and buts.

“I feel bad about the final result as I had a disastrous start to the meeting and felt I cost the team important points. A big shame.”

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Photo credit: COLIN POOLE