Pedersen perfect as Bears beaten
Plymouth Gladiators proved just too strong for the Redcar Bears at the Plymouth Coliseum as they ran out 46-43 winners on Tuesday evening meaning Redcar picked up a consolation league point. Plymouth held a narrow 3 point advantage heading into the decisive heat 15 but Bjarne Pedersen completed his maximum with 3 points to get the win for the Gladiators. The former Grand Prix star was the difference between the two sides.
The meeting actually started in scintillating fashion for the Bears as they hit a maximum advantage in the first heat of the evening as James Sarjeant was followed home by Charles Wright. Heat 5 was a controversial affair as Charles Wright tangled with Zane Keleher on the opening bends and Wright was excluded from the re-run with the Redcar fans on the back straight not agreeing with the decision from Jim McGregor. The 2nd running then saw Zane Keleher excluded after a crash with James Sarjeant which left 2 riders for the 3rd staging. The 3rd and final staging saw Zach Cook beat James Sarjeant to bring Plymouth within 1. Redcar’s lead evaporated after heat 6 when Jason Crump defeated Michael Palm-Toft and Dillon Ruml got the better of Anders Rowe to send the Gladiators into a 1 point lead on the night. The 8th heat saw the Gladiators strike their first major blow as their new signing Jason Edwards combined with the in-form Alfie Bowtell to take a 5-1 for the Southern side. Jake Allen continued his impressive evening in heat 10 to take the win and a vital 3rd place from Anders Rowe brought the Bears within 3 of the Gladiators.
The pairing of Allen and Rowe came together again in heat 12 and this time with greater effect as Redcar hit their 2nd 5-1 of the night to take a 1 point lead ahead of the final 3 races. Heat 13 saw the pendulum swing back in favour of the Gladiators as their star men, Crump and Pedersen combined for a 5-1 to send Plymouth back into a 3 point lead. Jake Allen continued his superb evening with a win in heat 14 but with the Gladiators packing the minor placings Redcar could not make any further inroads. The final race saw Bjarne Pedersen win from the gate which secured the win for the Gladiators but with Palm-Toft and Allen beating Crump the Bears secured a point that their efforts deserved. The undoubted star for the Bears was Jake Allen with 16 points from his 6 outings.
Bears Boss Jade Mudgway was in a philosophical mood after the encounter, “We could have pinched a win but Plymouth were good this evening. At times we struggled out of the gate but at other times we were making good gates. When you come down to heat 15 away from home and you need a 5-1 it’s hard, especially with Bjarne Pedersen and Jason Crump, Bjarne was in good form and he made great gates all evening. Although we were defeated tonight I still believe it is realistic to reach the top two in the league if we get our heads down and keep plugging away.
A reminder to all Bears fans that finishing in the top two positions in the league will guarantee Redcar a bye into the Play-Off semi-finals at the end of the campaign.
Plymouth Gladiators : 46
- Jason Crump = 8
- Dillon Ruml = 2
- Zach Cook = 5+1
- Zane Keleher = 5+1
- Bjarne Pedersen = 14+1 Paid Maximum
- Alfie Bowtell = 9
- Jason Edwards = 3+1
Redcar Bears : 43
- Charles Wright = 5+1
- James Sarjeant = 8+1
- Jake Allen = 16
- Jordan Stewart R/R = 6+1
- Michael Palm Toft = 8+1
- Anders Rowe = 5+1
- Jordan Jenkins = 1+1
