REDCAR fell to a 46-44 defeat at Shielfield Park as the Bears play-off hopes took a massive blow.
Redcar led until heat nine and only fell behind in heat 13, but with the meeting level heading into heat 15, Nick Morris completed a faultless full maximum, and with Jye Etheridge 3rd, Berwick’s undefeated home record remained intact. Nick Morris’ maximum was backed up by Jye Etheridge (11) whilst Simon Lambert returned to form with a paid 12 point haul for Redcar, (11+1).
The Bears began with a heat advantage as Jody Scott took an impressive tapes to flag win, and with Charles Wright in 3rd, the Bears had a start to build on. Heat two saw a blistering race as Lambert passed Jack Smith and his teammate Ace Pijper on lap one but the Brit was not done there as he built up his speed and passed Reid Battye on the final lap to take the win, and with Pijper 3rd, Redcar had an early four point lead.
Redcar’s dream start continued in heat three but not after controversy in the first staging of the race. Jake Allen was battling with the Bandits guest Dayle Wood when Wood came down. Wood was incensed with Allen but the referee excluded the home man, with Wood continuing his remonstrations in the pits. The re-run saw Allen win, and with Scott 3rd, the Bears had opened up an early six point lead at Shielfield Park.
However, Berwick hit back in heat four as Morris won, and with Battye making an equally impressive start, the hosts reduced the arrears to two points with a maximum heat advantage.
Heat five saw Wright take his first chequered flag of the evening over Victor Palovaara, and with Lambert 3rd, Redcar struck their 4th heat advantage after only 5 heats. Redcar’s rapid start continued in heat six as Jason Edwards won, and with Lambert passing Bandits guest Luke Killeen for 3rd, the play-off chasing visitors were in command at 15-21.
Berwick boss Stewart Dickson used his tactical substitute in heat seven as Palovaara joined Morris at the tapes. However, despite Morris taking the win, Palovaara was last, meaning Redcar’s 6 point lead remained intact.
However, Berwick are not undefeated at home all season for nothing and a 5-1 in heat eight saw the hosts hit back as the in-form Etheridge won, and with Battye in 2nd, the home supporters had their eyes set on a comeback win.
Despite the Bandits closing in on the “Agilia” Bears, the visitors recorded their sixth 4-2 of the evening as Edwards won again, and with Lambert blasting his way into an important 3rd, Redcar were four ahead.
However, Redcar’s lead evaporated in heat 10 as the impressive Bandits skipper Etheridge won, and with Battye holding off his compatriot Allen for 2nd, the match was suddenly all square.
After Morris won a shared heat 11, heat 12 saw a barnstorming race. Smith led from the gate, but Lambert passed the Bandits reserve. However, both Battye and Smith were not done with Lambert and with the Bears man opting to ride low on the final bend, both Bandits sensed an opportunity, but Lambert had enough to take the chequered flag to ensure Redcar remained level with the Bandits.
Heat 13 saw Berwick take the lead for the first time as Morris won despite Wright’s best efforts, and with the previously pointless Killeen 3rd, the hosts had a slender two point lead with two races remaining. However, the hosts lead did not last long as Allen won heat 14, and with Lambert finishing his impressive evening off with another 3rd place, we had a level meeting heading into heat 15.
The final race of a tense evening saw Allen and Morris battle going into the first turn but Morris came out on top, with Allen dropping to the back behind Etheridge with Wright in 2nd. Despite both Bears best efforts, the Bandits secured a 4-2 to preserve their undefeated home run and secure two league points with the Bears taking home the aggregate point for their efforts.
Berwick Bandits = 46 (89)
- Luke Kileen (G) = 1
- Jye Etheridge = 11
- Victor Palovaara = 4
- Dayle Wood (G) = 0
- Nick Morris = 15 MAX
- Jack Smith = 2
- Reid Battye = 13+4
Redcar Bears = 44 (91)
- Charles Wright = 10
- Jake Mulford R/R
- Jody Scott = 5+1
- Jake Allen =10+1
- Jason Edwards = 7
- Simon Lambert = 11+1
- Ace Pijper = 1