REDCAR struck the first blow in the first leg of the BSN Series Final with a pulsating 48-42 win over the Poole Pirates. The Bears, who are aiming to retain their title, had a 12 point lead at one stage in the meeting but the Pirates battled back, leaving the tie finely balanced ahead of the second leg tonight in Dorset.
Charles Wright top scored for the “Agilia” Bears including a stunning heat 15 win whilst Zach Cook struck 12 for Poole.
Redcar boss Gavin Parr was pleased with his side’s display despite Poole reducing the arrears to six points. Parr said, “I was pleased to get the win over a strong Poole side but after being 12 points up I do feel like we let things slip a little. However, we have given ourselves a chance for the second leg tonight.”
Heat one saw Jake Mulford taste the ECCO Arena shale on the opening bend and all four riders were invited back for the re-run. The re-run saw Will Cairns take an impressive win over Wright, but with Mulford holding off Richard Lawson, the opening race was shared.
The reserves race saw Simon Lambert and Ace Pijper dominate from the gate for a comfortable 5-1 heat advantage to send the hosts into an early four point lead.
Heat three saw Cooper Rushen and Jody Scott both fall with all four riders invited back for the re-run. The restaging saw Jake Allen take the win, but with Scott falling on the opening bends, it was another shared heat.
After a shared heat four won by Zach Cook, Poole hit back in heat four to level matters as Cairns took another big win, and with Lawson holding off the attentions of Allen for second, the reigning league champions were level.
Wright, the British number two, secured his first chequered flag of the evening with a strong win over Cook, and with Mulford 3rd, the Bears were back in front.
Heat seven saw Lewi Kerr lock up on the opening bends, and with Rushen collecting his partner (after being left with nowhere to go), the race was stopped. The referee excluded Kerr with the former Bear limping back to the pits with an ankle concern.
The re-run saw Lambert continue his recent upturn in form with an impressive win, and with Jason Edwards holding off Rushen, the Bears fans went wild as their side had opened up a six point advantage on home shale.
Redcar were beginning to run riot, and heat eight brought more success as Mulford won, and with Pijper second, the “Agilia” Bears had a remarkable ten point lead midway through the first leg.
Heat nine saw the Bears pairing gate, but with Allen leading, Jody Scott ran out of room on the backstraight, allowing Cook through for 2nd. However, with Allen continuing his stellar evening with his second heat win and Scott 3rd, the reigning BSN Series champions were 12 ahead against the much fancied Pirates.
Poole steadied the ship in heat 10 as Kerr battled his way past Mulford for the win, with the Pirates man taking an important win for his side after a crash in his previous heat, but with Rushen 4th, Redcar’s 12 point lead was still intact.
Heat 11 saw Edwards gate, but with Lawson passing the Bears man on the outside, a shared heat was looking likely, However, Cairns recovered from his 4th place in his previous ride to pass Lambert for 3rd to reduce the arrears to ten on Teesside.
After the newly crowned British U19 champion Scott won a shared heat 12, the Pirates struck back in the next race as Cook won, and with Lawson behind his skipper, suddenly Poole were back within six of their hosts.
Heat 14 saw Rushen, the British U21 champion take the win, and with Kyle Newman retaking 3rd on the final bends (after Lambert had passed the Poole man on bend two of the final lap), the Pirates were within four of the Bears heading into heat 15.
The final race of a thrilling evening saw Wright bolt through the pack to win, despite drama behind the Bears skipper. The Pirates looked set to challenge Wright but Lawson dropped a chain on lap two. The final two laps saw Wright take the win, and with Allen 3rd, Redcar had a six point advantage ahead of the decisive second leg at Wimborne Road tonight.
Redcar Bears = 48
1. Charles Wright = 11
2. Jake Mulford = 6+2
3. Jody Scott = 4
4. Jake Allen = 10
5. Jason Edwards = 5+2
6. Simon Lambert = 6
7. Ace Pijper = 6+2
Poole Pirates = 42
1. Richard Lawson = 7+2
2. Will Cairns = 7
3. Lewis Kerr = 6+1
4. Cooper Rushen = 6
5. Zach Cook = 12
6. Jordy Loftus (G) = 0
7. Kyle Newman = 4+1