League leaders beat the Bears
Redcar fell to their first defeat in 7 meetings as they were defeated by Poole 52-38 at Wimborne Road. Redcar struggled for heat advantages throughout the night as the Pirates extended their impressive undefeated streak at home.
The league leaders showed why they are currently top of the pile as their three heat leaders scored paid 37 points between them. On the other side of the pits, Redcar’s shining lights came in the form of the electric Lewis Kerr (paid 14) and Jordan Jenkins (paid 8) who underlined his 2021 improvement with another impressive performance.
The first 6 heats of the match saw Poole hit the Bears early as they provided all of the race winners with Benjamin Basso picking up 2 wins before having to withdraw following a crash in heat 10. Redcar began to eat into the Pirates lead with back to back heat advantages including Jenkins and James Sarjeant getting the better of Danyon Hume in a heat 8 5-1.
Jade Mudgway wasted no time in playing his tactical substitute card with Kerr joining Michael Palm-Toft in heat 11 but the Redcar pairing could only fill the minor places as Steve Worrall took a tapes to flag win to keep Poole 6 ahead. The next race saw Poole strike a telling blow with their skipper Danny King passing Charles Wright on the final lap to secure a Pirates 5-1 and the title contenders secured the win in heat 13 with a 5-1 which mathematically confirmed their place in top spot.
The aforementioned Bears bright sparks, Kerr and Jenkins combined for a confidence boosting 5-1 in heat 14 and they were both selected in heat 15 which saw King take the win but with Jenkins being passed by Worrall in the early stages Poole finished on a 4-2 heat advantage to hit 52 points on the night.
Redcar should not be too downhearted following this defeat and the real hard work begins with the play-offs with the Bears promotion desperate to add to their trophy cabinet by winning their first SGB Championship title.
Redcar’s rising star Jordan Jenkins was pleased with his performance, “It was a good night for me personally, I have only done 4 races at Poole and I am really happy to get my first heat 15 at Championship level. My gating is also improving all the time, I have Ged Rathbone helping me out but that is another part of my game that can still improve.”
Poole Pirates = 52
1. Rory Schlein = 8+2
2. Benjamin Basso = 6
3. Steve Worrall = 13
4. Ben Cook = 2
5. Danny King = 14
6. Anders Rowe (G) = 3+1
7. Danyon Hume = 6
Redcar Bears = 38
1. Charles Wright = 5
2. James Sarjeant = 2+1
3. Jake Allen = 6+1
4. Lewis Kerr = 12+2
5. Michael Palm Toft = 6
6. Ryan Kinsley = 0
7. Jordan Jenkins = 7+1