Bears beat Scorpions in BSN Series thriller!
Redcar bounced back from a 6 point deficit to end Scunthorpe’s 100% winning start to the season as they won 49-41 in a BSN Series thriller at the ECCO Arena. Charles Wright hit a faultless 18 point maximum for Redcar whilst Ryan Douglas hit 10 for the visitors.
Heading into heat 15, the Bears required a 4-2 heat advantage to force a super heat but despite Wright winning the race, Danny King was at the back which saw Scunthorpe secure the all-important aggregate bonus point.
Scunthorpe started superbly with a 5-1 in heat 1 as Richard Lawson and Connor Bailey were left standing at the start whilst Ryan Douglas and Simon Lambert took the spoils in a disappointing opening heat for the hosts.
Heat 2 saw the Bears bolt from the gate with Jason Edwards winning but Jake Mulford was passed by Scunthorpe guest Adam Roynon and his teammate Joe Thompson and despite Mulford’s best efforts to repass Thompson, he was unable to and the Scorpions remained 4 ahead. Wright got his night off to the perfect start with a superb race win after exchanging several passes with Connor Mountain with the Bears skipper diving up the inside on the final bend to take the win which sent the crowd wild.
The theme of shared heats continued in heats 4 and 5 with King taking the win in heat 4 whilst Wright passed Douglas on the opening lap in heat 5 to take his second win of his faultless evening. Former Bear Michael Palm-Toft came back to haunt Redcar in heat 6 as the Dane won and with Roynon securing 3rd ahead of Bailey, Scunthorpe extended their lead to 6 points.
Gavin Parr wasted no time in using his tactical substitute as the Bears team boss brought in Wright and the decision paid dividends as the Bears skipper combined with King to bring Redcar within 2 and suddenly the hosts had clawed back the majority of the deficit. Heat 8 saw Redcar level proceedings as Edwards took an impressive win despite being under intense pressure from Lambert and with Bailey comfortably 3rd, Redcar had the momentum.
The aforementioned momentum saw Redcar hit the front for the first time in heat 9 as Wright won again comfortably whilst Edwards saw off Roynon in the battle for 3rd which sent the Bears into a 2 point lead at the ECCO Arena. A dramatic heat 10 saw Redcar extend their lead to 6 as Lawson won but the story was behind the Bears guest as Jake Allen (in a comfortable 2nd) suffered mechanical issues which gifted Bailey 2nd and suddenly, the aggregate bonus point was in sight for Redcar.
Scunthorpe wasted no time in using their tactical substitute as Palm-Toft joined Douglas in heat 11 with Danny King tasked with dealing with the dangerous Scorpions pairing and the former British champion did exactly that as he won comfortably to keep the Bears 6 ahead, much to the delight of the home crowd.
After a shared heat 12 won by Wright, the Bears struck a huge blow in heat 13 with a superb 5-1 as King magnificently passed both visitors towards the end of lap 1 to bring the Bears level on aggregate. However, Scunthorpe hit back in heat 14 with a 4-2 as Allen impressively passed a hard charging Danyon Hume on the opening lap to edge the visitors ahead on aggregate with Redcar requiring a 4-2 heat advantage in heat 15 to force a nerve wracking super heat.
Charles Wright once again left his opponents standing as he flew from the gate to win convincingly but despite Danny King’s best efforts, he was unable to make an impression on the Scunthorpe pairing which left the Bears two short of their 10 point aggregate target and thus secured Scunthorpe’s place in the semi finals of the BSN Series.
However, The Bears are looking in a strong position for the title of best runners up from the 3 groups which will see them join the Scorpions in the semi finals of the BSN Series.
Redcar = 49 (89)
1. Richard Lawson (G) = 9
2. Connor Bailey = 3+1
3. Charles Wright = 18 MAX
4. Danyon Hume = 2
5. Danny King = 10+2
6. Jason Edwards = 7
7. Jake Mulford = 0
Scunthorpe = 41 (91)
1. Ryan Douglas = 10
2. Simon Lambert = 5+2
3. Connor Mountain = 5
4. Jake Allen = 5+1
5. Michael Palm Toft = 9+2
6. Adam Roynon (G) = 5+1
7. Joe Thompson = 2+2