Resolute Redcar record home win!
REDCAR secured a 48-42 home win over a battling Oxford Cheetahs side at the ECCO Arena. Despite the Bears into a 34-20 lead after heat nine, the visitors chipped away at the hosts lead to keep themselves in with a shout of a place in the MAXiCab KO Cup Final.
Charles Wright, on his 200th appearance as a Bear, top scored with paid 12 whilst the uber impressive Sam Masters struck 12 for the visitors.
Redcar made a dream start to proceedings in heat one as Jake Mulford gated for a comfortable win, and with Charles Wright riding shotgun in 2nd, the “Agilia” Bears had the start every home fan had hoped for.
However, the Cheetahs hit back in heat two as Cameron Heeps won, and with ex-Bear Jonas Knudsen safely settled into second, Oxford levelled matters. Nevertheless, the Bears retook the lead in heat three as Jason Edwards won convincingly, and with Jake Allen in an equally comfortable 2nd, the Bears restored their four point buffer.
Redcar’s lead was doubled in heat four as King won his opening race, and with Ace Pijper recovering from an uncharacteristic 4th place in his opening race to take 2nd, the Bears had an eight point advantage after only four heats.
After Masters registered his first win in a shared heat five, Redcar recorded their fourth 5-1 in heat six as the jet propelled Mulford won yet again, and with Wright (carrying incredible speed) passing both Cheetahs by the end of lap two, the Redcar fans were dreaming of a substantial first leg lead.
Heat seven saw Mitch McDairmid hit the deck twice in succession with the Australian excluded for his second crash on the opening bends in the second staging. The re-run saw Luke Killeen take a superb win in a shared race.
Heat eight saw Masters and Knudsen combine for what looked set to be a maximum, but with Knudsen suffering mechanical problems on bend four of lap three, the Bears came through to share the race and maintain their 12 point cushion.
Allen continued his stellar evening with a heat nine tapes to flag win, and with Edwards 3rd, the Cheetahs were staring down the barrel at the possibility of a heavy defeat. Killeen made it two big wins on the bounce as he took the scalp of Wright after beating King in heat seven, but with McDairmid 4th, the Cheetahs were still 14 down.
Oxford started to chip away at the “Agilia” Bears lead in heat 11 as Masters won after a pulsating battle with King, and with Knudsen just holding off Scott, the Cheetahs fans had a heat advantage to cheer. Heat 12 saw a second successive 4-2 for Oxford as Knudsen held off Edwards to win, and with Killeen 3rd, Oxford were within 10 of their hosts.
Francis Gusts came to the party for his side in heat 13 with a win, but with Wright passing Masters, the Bears captain prevented a 5-1 but the Cheetahs did record another 4-2 to cut the gap to eight on Teesside.
After Allen won a shared heat 14, the Cheetahs gated on a maximum in the final race but Wright passed Masters to take 2nd and ensure Redcar took a six point lead to Sandy Lane on Sunday.
Redcar Bears = 48
1. Charles Wright = 10+2
2. Jake Mulford = 9+1
3. Jason Edwards = 7+1
4. Jake Allen (G) = 10+1
5. Danny King = 7
6. Jody Scott = 2+1
7. Ace Pijper = 3+2
Oxford Cheetahs = 42
1. Sam Masters = 12
2. Jordan Jenkins R/R
3. Luke Killeen = 8
4. Mitch McDiarmid = 2
5. Francis Gusts = 8
6. Jonas Knudsen = 6+1
7. Cameron Heeps = 6+1