Pirates purr to big away win
REDCAR’s home league campaign got off to the worst possible start as Poole took a 51-39 win at the ECCO Arena. Lewi Kerr returned to Redcar with a dazzling paid 17 (14+3) whilst Will Cairns struck paid 16 (15+1) for the reigning Cab Direct Championship Champions.
The Bears held the lead after 9 heats but the visitors were too strong in the latter stages, outscoring the Bears 28-11 in the last 6 heats. Jake Allen hit paid 14 (13+1) for Redcar, including a stunning heat 15 success but the Bears were outgunned overall, with attention now turning to tonight’s trip to Sheilfield Park to take on Berwick.
After a slight delay due to a tapes issue, the Bears started in superb style as Nicolai Klindt took a tapes to flag win to make it seven race wins on the spin, and with Jake Mulford using his home track knowledge to hold off William Cairns and Richard Lawson, Redcar struck the first blow.
Heat two saw Cairns make the gate, but with Poole’s guest, Harry Sadler hitting the deck, the race was stopped and the Poole guest was excluded. The re-run saw Cairns again trap perfectly for a comfortable win, but as the lone Pirate, Redcar’s four point lead remained intact.
Poole hit back with a big 5-1 in heat three as the ex-Bears duo, Lewi Kerr and Kyle Newman made the gate, and took the maximum heat advantage, despite Jason Edwards’ best efforts. Jake Allen opened his account with a win, but with Zach Cook capitalising on a mistake from Jody Scott, the Poole skipper ensured it was only a 4-2 for the hosts.
Lawson returned to winning ways in heat 5 as he took the heat win, and with rider replacement Kerr in second, Redcar were in arrears for the first time at 14-16. Redcar levelled matters in heat 6 as Mulford took a mightily impressive win, and with Klindt battling his way into 3rd, Redcar had parity.
After Kerr won a shared heat seven, Scott took a scintillating win, and with Mulford pipping the impressive young Sadler on the run to the line, Redcar re-took the lead with a 4-2 to lead 25-23 on home shale. Edwards returned to winning ways in heat 9, but with Jordan Jenkins at the back, Redcar could not extend their advantage.
Kerr continued on his merry way with a superb backstraight run on lap 1 for the win, and with Newman seeing off Klindt, the Pirates opened up a 2 point lead on aggregate.
After a shared heat won by Allen, Poole struck a major blow in heat 12 as Cairns won, and with Kerr battling into 2nd, the visitors opened up a six point advantage. Despite Klindt making the gate in heat 13, both Pirates battled past for a match winning 5-1 to give Poole a statement away win.
Heat 14 saw the impressive Cairns win, and with Newman 3rd, Poole pressed home their advantage. The final race of the evening was a stunner as Allen bounced off the back straight fence to pass both Pirates for the win to deny Kerr a paid maximum, but with Scott at the back, Redcar could not finish with a consolation heat advantage.
Redcar Bears = 39
- Nicolai Klindt = 5
- Jake Mulford = 6+1
- Jordan Jenkins = 0
- Jason Edwards = 5
- Jake Allen = 13+1
- Ace Pijper = 4
- Jody Scott = 6+1
Poole Pirates = 51
- Richard Lawson = 9
- Fraser Bowes R/R
- Lewis Kerr = 14+3
- Kyle Newman = 7+2
- Zach Cook = 6+1
- William Cairns = 15+1
- Harry Sadler (G) = 0