Bears defeat fancied Leicester
Redcar Agilia Bears produced a superb team performance to defeat the well fancied Leicester Lions 48-42 at the Media Prima Arena on Friday night.
On a very warm night on Teesside, the Bears started the better of the two sides. A 5-1 in heat two from Jack Smith and Nathan Greaves set the home side on their way. A raft of 4-2s in the early part of the meeting saw the Bears have an eight point lead after eight heats.
A superb heat 9 saw the Lions get back into the meeting. Ostergaard gated for the Bears and led Nicholls and Harris for approaching three laps. Despite the Danes best efforts though, Harris and Nicholls both got past on the home straight going into the final lap – one on the inside and one on the outside. Another 4-2 for the Lions in heat 10 saw the deficit cut to just two points.
From that point on though the Bears kicked on, with heat wins for Michael Palm Toft, Ostergaard and a superb 5-1 from Charles Wright and Toft in heat 13 which guaranteed the Bears an excellent win. A heat 15 five one for the Lions saw them leave Teesside with a deserved point after a superb nights racing. Bears promoter Jitendra Duffill was delighted with his side work, and believes this sends a message that the Bears are for real this season:
” I expected a very tough time tonight as Leicester are formidable opposition. Without any doubt they are the favourites for the Championship League this year, so to beat them convincingly has put a big smile on my face. Nobody should hold any fears for us at home now and this will send a message to the rest of the championship and give us confidence to beat anybody; it won’t come any harder than that. Very proud of the whole team tonight who raced with determination and self belief and well done to Leicester who deserved their point.”
Redcar Bears = 48
1. Charles Wright : 3, 3, 2, 2*, 0 = 10+1
2. Tom Bacon : EX, 1, 3, EX = 4
3. Ulrich Ostergaard: 0, 1, 1, 3 = 5
4. Broc Nicol (G) : 3, 3, 0, 1* = 7+1
5. Michael Palm Toft : 2, 3, 3, 3, 1 = 12
6. Nathan Greaves : 0, 2*, 1, 1, 1, 2 = 7+1
7. Jack Smith : 3, 0, 0 = 3
Leicester Lions = 42
1. Scott Nicholls : 1*, 2, 3, 0, 0 = 6+1
2. Ellis Perks : 2, 0, 2, 2 = 6
3. Josh Bates : 1*, 2, 1, 2 = 6+1
4. Ryan Douglas : 2, EX, 3, 3, 3 = 11
5. Chris Harris (G) : 3, 2, 2*, 1, 2* = 10+2
6. Jason Edwards (G) : 1, 0, 0 = 1
7. Connor Mountain : 0, 1, 1*, 0 = 2+1