Brilliant Bears beat Bandits!
REDCAR produced a true team display to overcome the Berwick Bandits 53-37 on the night with Redcar taking a 94-86 aggregate win. Danny King hit a stunning paid 14 for Redcar whilst Peter Kildemand struck paid 9 for Berwick. The win sees the Bears progress to the MAXiCab KO Cup semi-finals.
Redcar started the meeting strongly as Jake Mulford flew from the gate for what is now becoming a customary heat one success, and with Charles Wright battling past Danyon Hume for 3rd, the hosts had cut the aggregate deficit to two on Teesside.
Heat two saw a restart as Dayle Wood moved at the tapes and was handed a warning. The second staging saw the aforementioned Wood hit the front with the Aussie leading into bend three until Wood hit the deck, with the Berwick reserve excluded from the third staging.
The third and final staging saw Jack Smith make a superb gate for the visitors, but with both Bears packing into the minor placings, Berwick’s lead remained at two points.
Heat three saw the “Agilia” Bears stamp their authority on proceedings as King stretched his legs for a comfortable win, and with Jason Edwards getting the better of a titanic tussle with Drew Kemp, Redcar were 12-6 ahead on the night and two points up on aggregate.
After Riss won comfortably in a shared heat four, the hosts hit another stunning 5-1 as King won yet again, and with Edwards passing Hume on lap three, the Bears had a firm grip on the cup tie.
Heat six saw Mulford take one of the biggest scalps of his burgeoning career as he and Wright complemented each other perfectly to keep Kildemand at bay which saw Redcar register another 5-1, leaving Stewart Dickson staring down the barrel of a cup exit.
After a shared heat seven won by the effortless looking Riss, Berwick hit back with a surprising heat eight 5-1 as Hume and Smith combined to cut the deficit to 10 points on the night and six on aggregate.
Berwick’s revival continued in heat nine as Kildemand took his maiden win to lower King’s colours, and with Wood holding Edwards (who had first bend problems) off, the Bandits supporters began to believe with the visitors only trailing by four points on aggregate.
Nevertheless, the Bears ensured the Bandits revival was short lived as Wright and Mulford once again team rode perfectly to hit their 2nd successive 5-1 to re-establish Redcar’s 12 point 2nd leg advantage, much to the delight of the partisan home crowd.
After Riss made it three wins from three in a shared heat 11, Edwards rode incredibly to hold off the faster looking Drew Kemp for the win, but with Ace Pijper at the back, Redcar had to settle for a shared heat.
Heat 13 saw the previously undefeated Riss hit the deck on the opening bend, and with the German excluded from the re-run, Berwick sensed an opportunity. The re-run saw Wright snake out of the gate which saw Cook and Kildemand hit the front, and with Wright unable to reel in either Bandit, Berwick were back within four of Redcar with two heats remaining.
Heat 14 saw King and Tom Spencer gate, but with Smith coming down on lap two, the race was stopped with a re-run ordered. The re-run saw King win, but the real story was the battle for 2nd as Spencer rode phenomenally to hold off Sam Hagon which confirmed Redcar’s progression to the KO Cup semi-finals.
The final race of an entertaining evening saw Riss and King record a comfortable maximum to add gloss to another home win, much to the delight of the Redcar support.
Redcar Bears = 53 (94)
1. Charles Wright = 9+1
2. Jake Mulford = 6+1
3. Jason Edwards = 7+1
4. Danny King = 13+1
5. Erik Riss = 12
6. Tom Spencer = 4+1
7. Ace Pijper = 2+1
Berwick Bandits = 37 (86)
1. Craig Cook = 8
2. Danyon Hume = 5+1
3. Drew Kemp = 4+1
4. Sam Hagon = 4
5. Peter Kildemand = 8+1
6. Dayle Wood = 2+1
7. Jack Smith = 6+2