Tigers taste victory on Teesside!
REDCAR’s 100% home record was ended as the Glasgow Tigers shone in the early stages to record a 42-48 Cab Direct Championship success at the ECCO Arena. Charles Wright top scored for Redcar with paid 13 whilst Chris Harris hit a sublime paid 17 for the visitors.
Glasgow started with a 5-1 as Harris gated for a comfortable win, and with the ECCO Arena debutant, Villads Nagel in 2nd, the Tigers travelling support had a maximum heat advantage to celebrate.
Heat two saw returning guest reserve Ben Trigger win, and with Ace Pijper passing Freddy Hodder for 3rd, Redcar cut the gap to 5-7 on home shale. However, Redcar’s joy was soon tempered as Harris (out as rider replacement) joined the impressive heat winner Leon Flint for a second Glasgow 5-1 to send the visitors into a six point advantage.
Heat four saw Redcar gate on a maximum as the ever improving Pijper led, with Danny King attempting to team ride his younger teammate home. However, Glasgow’s Kyle Howarth built up his speed throughout the race and it paid dividends for him as he swooped around King on the back straight of the final lap to limit Redcar to a 4-2.
The impressive Nagel flew from the gate to win heat five, and with Harris passing Edwards for 2nd, the 2023 league champions had full control. Wright took his first win in heat six as he rode well to hold off the hard charging Howarth, and with Pijper 3rd despite challenging for 2nd, the Bears were back within six of Glasgow.
Redcar boss Gavin Parr played his tactical substitute in heat seven with Wright partnering King, and with Redcar gating on a 5-1, the Bears looked set to hit back. However, a remarkable race saw Flint pass both Bears on the back straight of the final lap to win and negate the tactical substitute and keep Glasgow six ahead.
Heat eight looked set to be shared with Nagel continuing his fine evening at the front, and with Redcar sat in the minor placings, the race looked settled. However, Jody Scott suffered a mechanical issue, dropping him out of the equation which gave the Scottish side a 4-2 and an eight point advantage.
Redcar recorded their 3rd 4-2 heat advantage in heat nine as KIng bounced back with a win, and with Edwards 3rd, the “Agilia” Bears were still hopeful of mounting an unlikely comeback. Heat 10 saw Wright win to lower both Flint and Nagel’s colours, but with Pijper 4th, the gap remained at six points.
Heat 11 saw fireworks as King gated, only to be passed by Harris and Nagel on the back straight of lap one. However, King produced a sublime move off bend four to squeeze in between both Tigers and stride to an impressive win, but with Trigger at the back, Glasgow remained relatively comfortable at 30-36.
After Edwards battled hard with Flint to win a shared heat, Glasgow edged towards victory as Harris edged out Wright in an entertaining heat 13, and with Howarth keeping King at the rear, Glasgow were 35-43 ahead with two heats remaining.
The Tigers wrapped up the win in heat 14 after another enthralling battle for the win. Edwards once again got the better of Flint for the win but with Pijper unable to pass Max Perry, the visitors supporters celebrated a big three league points including the bonus point.
The final race saw Harris conclude a superb evening’s work with a win, but with Nagel 4th, Glasgow did not end with a heat advantage but did take a deserved win on away shale.
Redcar = 42 (84)
1. Charles Wright = 12+1
2. Jody Scott = 0
3. Jason Edwards = 10+1
4. Erik Riss R/R
5. Danny King = 9
6. Ben Trigger (G) = 4
7. Ace Pijper = 7
Glasgow = 48 (96)
1. Chris Harris = 14+3
2. Villads Nagel = 11+2
3. Dan Thompson R/R
4. Leon Flint = 12
5. Kyle Howarth = 7
6. Freddy Hodder = 0
7. Max Perry = 4+1