Bears take 8 point lead in Play Off Semi Final
Redcar Agilia Bears will take an 8 point lead into the second leg at Leicester a week on Saturday, as they defeated the Lions 49-41 in the first leg on Friday night.
In front of a big crowd at the Media Prima Arena, the Bears started the meeting well. After Lion skipper Scott Nicholls shot out of the gate to win Heat 1, Nathan Greaves and Tom Woolley then combined for a 5-1 in heat 2 to give the Bears the lead. Jordan Stewart and guest Richard Lawson then combined for another 5-1 in heat 3 to put the Bears in charge.
The same pairing combined for another 5-1 in heat 5 to extend the Bears lead to 12 points and at that point the Bears looked fully in charge. The Lions though, led by the impressive Ryan Douglas steadied the ship with a number of shared heats to ensure the Bears could not extend their lead. The Lions then reduced the deficit with what could be an important 5-1 in heat 14, with Ty Proctor and Connor Mountain getting the better of Jordan Stewart and the unfortunate Nathan Greaves who took a nasty tumble.
That led to an all-important Heat 15, with Charles Wright and Erik Riss coming up against the impressive Douglas and Scott Nicholls. Douglas made a superb gate, and held off early pressure from Wright for the victory, with Riss coming home in third place to ensure a shared heat and a 8 point lead for the Bears. It certainly leaves the tie very finely poised for the second leg, where both teams will be confident of progressing.
Redcar Bears = 49
1. Charles Wright : 1*, 2, 3, 3, 2 = 11+1
2. Kasper Andersen : 2, 1*, 3, 0 = 6+1
3. Richard Lawson (G) : 2*, 3, R, 3 = 8+1
4. Jordan Stewart : 3, 2*, 2, 1 = 8+1
5. Erik Riss : 3, 3, 3, 0, 1* = 10+1
6. Tom Woolley : 2*, 0, 0 = 2+1
7. Nathan Greaves : 3, 0, 1, 0, EX = 4
Leicester Lions = 41
1. Scott Nicholls : 3, R, 2, 1*, 0 = 6+1
2. Ellis Perks : R, 1, R = 1
3. Kyle Howarth (G) : 1, 2, 2, 2 = 7
4. Ty Proctor : 0, 1*, 1*, 3 = 5+1
5. Ryan Douglas : 1*, 3, 3, 2, 3 = 12+1
6. Joe Lawlor : 1, 0, 1 = 2
7. Connor Mountain : EX, 2, 2, 1*, 1*, 2* = 8+3