Redcar Bears v Berwick Bandits

REDCAR recovered from a poor start to edge out Berwick 47-43 in a last-heat decider at the Ecco Arena on Friday.

The Bears trailed by six points after Heat 9 as the Bandits looked set to break their away duck in the Cab Direct Championship this season.

But 5-1s in Heats 10 and 12, both involving reserve Jody Scott, changed the picture and the home side were narrowly ahead going into the last race.

Skipper Charles Wright was disqualified for touching the tapes and Jason Edwards suffered a heavy fall in the re-run – but he picked himself up to win at the third time of asking, whilst Scott replaced Wright and took third place as the Bears got over the line.

Wright top scored with 12+1 and Edwards picked up 12, whilst Jye Etheridge (11+1) and Peter Kildemand (11) led the way for the Bandits.

Redcar manager Gavin Parr said: “Hats off to the boys for all sticking together and getting the job done.

“Berwick were always going to provide a sterner test than they did last time and at times, we had to dig deeper than we have had to do before this season.”

CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP
REDCAR 47: Charles Wright 12+1, Jason Edwards 12, Jody Scott 8+2, Jake Allen 6, Jake Mulford 5+1, Ryan Ingram 3, Simon Lambert 1
BERWICK 43: Jye Etheridge 11+1, Peter Kildemand 11, Reid Battye 9+1, Nick Morris 7+2, Jack Smith 4+3, Victor Palovaara 1, Jordan Jenkins r/r

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Photo credit: COLIN POOLE