BEARS LEAD FINAL BY SIX

REDCAR will take a six-point lead to Poole for the deciding leg of the BSN Series Final which takes place at Wimborne Road tonight (Wednesday).

The Bears won the opening encounter 48-42 but were left feeling they could have enjoyed a larger advantage, especially as they led by 12 points after Heat 10.

The Pirates suffered a variety of mechanical issues along with a heavy first bend crash for Lewis Kerr, but they dug deep over the closing stages to reduce the deficit.

Charles Wright top-scored for the home side with 11 from five rides and Jake Allen added 10, whilst Poole skipper Zach Cook collected 12 in a meeting where all of the visitors’ top five won at least one race.

Redcar manager Gavin Parr said: “I probably would have taken a win before the meeting, but it’s just been the story of our season.

“We’ve been in these positions four or five times away from home where they’ve used a tactical substitute against us and we’ve ended up throwing it away.

“It’s disappointing, but we’ve kept our noses in front and you never know what will happen on Wednesday.”

Pirates co-boss Gary Havelock said: “It was one of those meetings where just about everything went wrong that could possibly have gone wrong.

“I think Zach was the only rider who didn’t have a problem, and Lewi got T-boned and was in agony, so he did well to ride again.

“From twelve points down and getting back to six, one thing this team has got is fight.”

The Pirates hope to welcome reserve Slater Lightcap back for the second leg, where the teams are expected to be otherwise unchanged.

POOLE: Richard Lawson, Will Cairns, Lewis Kerr, Cooper Rushen, Zach Cook, Slater Lightcap (TBC), Kyle Newman.

REDCAR: Charles Wright, Jake Mulford, Jody Scott, Jake Allen, Jason Edwards, Simon Lambert, Ace Pijper.

SCB Referee: Christina Turnbull

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Photo credit: COLIN POOLE