Mudgway: It’s all to play for!
Redcar boss Jade Mudgway believes the Bears have every chance of progressing to the KO Cup quarter finals when the Bears host the Cheetahs this Friday at the Ecco Arena, (19:30 start). “It’s all to play for this Friday, we start the meeting as if it’s like any other meeting and if we can hit them hard early on we will be in a good position.”
The former Berwick star thinks that it’s all starting to come together for his 1-7, “I think our side are all starting to find their feet now. Adam had a good meeting on Wednesday so hopefully he can re-produce that on Friday, Kasper rode well last week and our heat leaders are scoring well and are also racing in the Premiership so that stands us in good stead. Last but not least, our reserves are working hard and that can only be a good sign.”
Mudgway believes bringing the aggregate scores level in the early stages is crucial, “If we can get a couple of early heat advantages it may worry Oxford as they will then have to essentially win a 12/13 heat meeting. It is vital that we start well to keep the Cheetahs under pressure, we do that by hitting them hard and early!”
The adopted Teessider believes the second leg has all the ingredients for an entertaining spectacle, “With the added dimension of the meeting being the second leg, the Bears starting slightly behind and Oxford having a strong side the clash has the makings of a highly entertaining and intriguing meeting.”
Redcar are back at full strength ahead of the second leg as the Teessiders welcome Kasper Andersen back into the fold after the Dane missed the first leg due to a prior league commitment in his homeland. Redcar’s dangerous heat leader trio will all be hoping to continue their brilliant starts to the season to see the “Agilia” Bears progress to a KO Cup quarter final tie against Berwick.
Oxford are again without their Australian reserve Josh MacDonald with the former Scunthorpe man still recovering from a broken leg. The SGB Championship newcomers have called upon their National League rider and the former Somerset reserve Nathan Stoneman as a guest in the reserve berth.
Redcar Agilia Bears.
1 Charles Wright 8.37 (C)
2 Adam Roynon 5.08
3 Lewis Kerr 7.47
4 Kasper Andersen 5.87
5 Erik Riss 7.84
6 Jason Edwards 2.16
7 Jordan Jenkins 3.61
TM Jade Mudgway
Monarch Oxford Cheetahs
1 Troy Batchelor 9.11
2 Kyle Newman 5.16
3 Jack Thomas 4.91
4 Cameron Heeps 5.05
5 Scott Nicholls 9.07 (C)
6 Dillon Ruml 4.00
7 Nathan Stoneman 4.00 (G)
TM Jason Crump/ Peter Schroeck