Brave Bears fall to defeat
A depleted Redcar Agilia Bears side put up a brave fight before eventually falling to a 47-43 defeat to Scunthorpe at the Media Prima Arena on Friday night.
With the Bears missing Erik Riss and Jordan Stewart, Scunthorpe came into the meeting as firm favourites and soon took a four point lead after 4-2 advantages in heats 2 and 3. Both teams were providing some superb racing, and the Bears gradually got themselves back into the meeting with 4-2’s from skipper Charles Wright and Kasper Andersen and then Wright and Greaves. Going into heat 9 the scores were level at 24 a piece.
Heat 9 was arguably the highlight of the night for the Bears. Superb reserve Nathan Greaves and Kasper Andersen gated ahead of Ben Barker and Simon Lambert, and despite the Scorpions pairs best efforts the Bears held on for a 5-1 which gave the Bears a 4 point lead. The Scorions hit back with a 5-1 of their own in heat 10, and then gradually pulled away with ex-Bear Ben Barker and Jake Allen leading the way.
Going into heat 15, the Scorpions led by 4 and only a Bears 5-1 would rescue a draw. Wright, nursing a knee injury after a heat 10 fall, and Palm Toft both passed Danny Ayres on lap one and gave chase to Jake Allen, but the Aussie star held on well for the win to secure the 3 points for Scunthorpe.
It was a superb effort from the Bears on the night, with MPT top scoring with 14+1. Wright scored 11 and Graves scored 10+1. Allen top scored for Scunthorpe with 13+1. The Bears are next in action on Wednesday away to Birmingham, before the return fixture next Friday at the Media Prima Arena.
Redcar = 43
1. Ben Rathbone (G) 0, 0, 1 = 1
2. Charles Wright 3, 3, 3, Fx, 2 = 11
3. Kasper Andersen 2, 1, 2′, F, 2 = 7+1
4. Jordan Stewart R/R (TW 0, MPT 3, NG 3, KA 2 = 8)
5. Michael Palm Toft 2, 3, 3, 3, 2, 1′ = 14+1
6. Nathan Greaves 2, 1′, 1, 3, 0, 2, 1′ = 10+2
7. Tom Woolley 0, 0, 0, 0 = 0
8. Sheldon Davies
Scunthorpe = 47
1. Josh Auty 2, 2, 1′, 1 = 6+1
2. Stefan Nielsen R/R (SL 1′, DA 0, RK 0, BB 2 = 3+1)
3. Danny Ayres 1, 0, 1′, 3, 3, 0 = 8+1
4. Jake Allen 3, 2, 2′, 3, 3 = 13+1
5. Ben Barker 3, 2, 1, 2, 3 = 11
6. Ryan Kinsley 1, 1′, 0 = 2+1
7. Simon Lambert 1′, 3, 0, 2, 0, 1, 0 = 7+1