Superb Scorpions take the spoils!
The Redcar “Agilia” Bears were defeated 44-46 by an in-form Scunthorpe side at the ECCO Arena. Charles Wright hit 14 for Redcar with Erik Riss hitting a sublime paid maximum (13+2) whilst Michael Palm-Toft hit 10 for the victorious visitors.
The visitors set the tone for the meeting with a shock opening heat 5-1 as Connor Mountain took the win whilst Kyle Howarth held off educated pressure from Charles Wright to take 2nd and give the Scorpions the dream start on Teesside. Heat 2 saw fantastic speedway as Ashton Boughen, the Scunthorpe guest, passed both Ben Trigger and Jake Mulford to take a stylish win, but with Luke Harrison at the back, Scunthorpe could not extend their advantage in the early stages.
The 3rd race saw another Scorpions heat winner as Palm-Toft passed Jason Edwards in the early stages to take the win, but with Simon Lambert at the back, the Bears remained within 4 of the much fancied visitors. Erik Riss started his perfect night with a superb gate to take a comfortable win, and with Trigger riding well to hold off Harrison, Redcar had their first heat advantage but still found themselves 11-13 down in their first Cab Direct Championship meeting of the season.
However, the dynamite pairing of Kyle Howarth and Connor Mountain again shocked the home fans with a big 5-1 as they gated for a comfortable maximum advantage to extend their lead to 6 points on away soil. Heat 6 saw Wright take the win after holding off a hard charging Jake Allen, but with Jonas Knudsen being beaten on the line by the ever improving Ashton Boughen, Redcar remained six behind.
With the Bears six behind, Gavin Parr elected to use his tactical substitute in the shape of Charles Wright who joined Erik Riss with the home support hoping their side could start the comeback with a big 5-1. However, despite Erik Riss taking the win, Palm-Toft and Wright passed each other numerous times with Palm-Toft landing the decisive blow to take 2nd and ensure Redcar could only reduce the arrears to 4 at the ECCO Arena.
Despite Redcar hitting their second heat advantage, Mountain and Boughen were proving to be a thorn in the Redcar side as they hit a damaging 5-1 to give their side clear breathing space at 20-28 at the ECCO Arena. Scunthorpe heat advantages were becoming all too regular as they hit fourth of the night in a 4-2 as Jake Allen took his only win of the night despite being pressurised by Jason Edwards throughout with the Redcar fans left rueing a fall by Connor Bailey who looked well set to challenge Allen for the lead.
Heat 10 saw Wright take the win after a battle in the early stages with Palm-Toft, but with Jonas Knudsen unable to make an impression on Simon Lambert, Redcar could not reduce the visitors lead which stood at 10 points.
After a pair of shared heats won by Riss and Bailey respectively, Redcar struck their first 5-1 of the evening as Wright and Riss comprehensively defeated Howarth and Allen to give the home support faint hope of a stunning comeback. However, heat 14 saw those slim hopes ended as Palm-Toft made a superb gate to take a comfortable win to give the visitors the 2 league points.
The final race saw the dynamite pairing of Wright and Riss take a consolation 5-1 from the gate with the Scorpions taking a 44-46 success on Teesside.
Redcar = 44
1. Charles Wright = 14
2. Jonas Knudsen = 1
3. Connor Bailey = 4+1
4. Jason Edwards = 6+1
5. Erik Riss (G) = 13+2 Paid Max
6. Jake Mulford = 3+1
7. Ben Trigger = 3
Scunthorpe = 46
1. Kyle Howarth = 9+1
2. Connor Mountain = 9+2
3. Simon Lambert = 2+2
4. Michael Palm Toft = 10
5. Jake Allen = 7
6. Ashton Boughen (G) = 8+2
7. Luke Harrison = 1