Bears bounce back with big away win!
Redcar showed their resilience and bouncebackability to pick up a vital away win with a 43-47 success over a depleted Berwick side. Erik Riss returned to form with a bang to top score for the Bears with paid 14 whilst Theo Pijper scored paid 14 for the hosts. Redcar have now won on their last 3 visits to Shielfield Park by margins of 4 points (2019,2022) and 6 points (2021).
The meeting started in the worst possible circumstances for the hosts as Jye Etheridge crashed on the first bend of heat 1 and was forced to withdraw from the meeting, we send our best wishes to Etheridge and hope for a speedy recovery.
The Bandits guest, Nick Morris took the chequered flag in heat 1 but with both Bears sat in behind the spoils were shared, something that would become a running theme throughout the evening! Jason Edwards impressively won heat 2 from the gate but with Jenkins at the back the scores remained level.
The Bandits struck the first telling blow of the evening with a maximum heat advantage in heat 6 as Morris and the ageless Theo Pijper got the better of Lewis Kerr and Jordan Jenkins to send Berwick into the lead.
Redcar responded instantly with a 5-1 of their own courtesy of Riss and a former Bandit, Kasper Andersen. Suddenly, maximum heat advantages were all the rage as the Bandits re-asserted their lead as Ricky Wells won comfortably and Kyle Bickley showed the required nous to hold off a hard charging Adam Roynon.
The first 4-2 arrived in heat 9 with Kerr winning and with Jenkins sublimely passing Bickley, Berwick’s lead was reduced to 2. The 4th 5-1 of the match arrived in heat 10 with the power packed Bears engine room of Riss and Andersen getting the better of Nick Morris to swing the pendulum in favour of Redcar with the Teessiders now leading by two.
Heat 11 saw Lee Complin try a rash inside pass on Adam Roynon which took out the Cumbrian. Complin was excluded from the re-run and a bruised Roynon also was able to partake in the re-run. Charles Wright took his first win of the evening which sent Redcar into a 4 point lead.
Riss continued his fantastic evening with a comfortable heat 12 win whilst Wright took the chequered flag in heat 13. However, the Bandits packed the minor places in both which kept them within touching distance.
Kasper Andersen pulled off a memorable move in heat 14 as he stormed past both Bandits exiting the 4th bend of the opening lap to then motor to a comfortable win to send the large Redcar contingent on the back straight absolutely wild!
The Bandits required a 5-1 for a draw in heat 15 but it was not to be. Redcar initally gated on a 5-1 but a determined Morris passed Wright in the opening lap and then stormed up the inside of Riss to take an impressive win.
Erik Riss was happy to return to form after a tough night against Poole, “It was very good to get a win after the Poole match which was very disappointing. We all struggled yesterday but today was much better!”
The German star also discussed his machinery, “There was something wrong with my bike yesterday but I checked everything over and couldn’t find the problem. For tonights match I used a different bike and it seemed to work!”
Berwick Bandits = 43
1. Nick Morris (G) = 12
2. Leon Flint R/R
3. Theo Pijper = 11+3
4. Jye Etheridge = WITHDRAWN
5. Ricky Wells = 10+1
6. Lee Complin (G) = 5
7. Kyle Bickley = 5+1
8. Luke Crang = 0
Redcar Bears = 47
1. Charles Wright = 11+1
2. Adam Roynon = 4+2
3. Erik Riss = 13+1
4. Kasper Andersen = 8+1
5. Lewis Kerr = 6
6. Jordan Jenkins = 1
7. Jason Edwards = 4+1