Redcar SG Petch Bears v Peterborough T Balfe Construction Panthers – Thursday 13th April – 7:30pm

This Thursday sees the SG Petch Bears take on Peterborough Panthers in the second leg of the KO Cup at the Media Prima Arena, with a 7:30pm start.
The Bears trail by 10 after the 49-39 defeat at Peterborough on Sunday, and Bears team manager Jitendra Duffill is hopeful that the Bears can pull back the deficit to progress to the next round:

10 points is definitely salvageable and it sets the 2nd leg of this tie up nicely from a spectators point of view. Our boys are fired up for this one and we will see them give everything Thursday to see us progress to the next round of the cup. . We can consider ourselves very unlucky that the scoreline was not a lot closer in the first leg. Engine failures whilst in scoring positions for both Ellis and Richard cost us at least 4 points. 

German star Tobias Busch was unfortunately injured early in that meeting, and has been replaced by Argentine Coty Garcia who comes in as a short term replacement. Garcia has shown a liking for the MPA in the past and the Bears will be hoping for more of the same from him. The undoubted star on Sunday was Charles Wright, with the popular Brit scoring a 15 point maximum. Duffill was delighted with his contribution:

I have to give a special mention to Charles Wright who was absolutely superb at Peterborough.  His 15 point maximum was hard-earned and was the first of his career. That’s 3 maximums in 3 meetings for a Bears rider now and the battle for the number 1 race jacket could be very interesting in 2017.

Last Thursday saw an impressive performance from the Bears against a solid Russ Hodgson select side, with the Bears winning 57-35. Duffill is confident of an exciting night ahead on Thursday:

Last week we nearly hit 60 points against a decent Russ Hodgson Select side. I have a lot of confidence in our side and this cup tie is far from over. Thursday’s fixture promises to be a very exciting 2nd leg. Thanks for your support. Up the Bears! 

There is a further change at reserve for the Bears, with Ellis Perks riding for his Championship club Rye House at Swindon. Scunthorpe’s Josh Bailey will guest in his place. Peterborough are led by Aussie Jack Holder, brother of Chris, and in Kenneth Hansen and Ulrich Ostergaard certainly have riders who know the fastest way round the MPA. Impressive reserve Bradley Wilson-Dean also misses the meeting for the Panthers, with Nike Lunna guesting in his place.

Redcar – Jason Garrity, Coty Garcia, Charles Wright, Jonas B Andersen, Ben Barker, Richard Hall, Josh Bailey
Peterborough – Jack Holder, Simon Lambert, Paul Starke, Ulrich Ostergaard, Kenneth Hansen, Nike Lunna, Tom Bacon.