Bears defeated as play-off dream ended

Redcar’s Championship run came to an end after the Edinburgh Monarchs dominated the second leg of the play-off quarter final to book a date against Glasgow in the semi-finals. Redcar failed to pressure the Monarchs as they could only boast three heat advantages throughout the second leg with the final score reading 33-57 with an aggregate score of 73-108.

Redcar actually started the meeting with a heat advantage with Charles Wright taking the win with Jordan Jenkins in third after Sam Masters fell in the original staging of heat 1. Unfortunately this was as good as it got for the Bears as Edinburgh racked up the heat advantages to defeat a depleted Redcar side. Redcar were hampered by a visibly struggling Palm-Toft who was clearly struggling with his finger injury as he only completed 3 races.

With rider replacement already in operation for James Sarjeant and Palm-Toft being forced to withdraw this left Redcar’s team manager with no other option than to use Jenkins and Kinsley 12 times out of a maximum of 14 which limited the Bears chances further.

3 heat advantage in succession in heats 2,3 and 4 set the Monarchs on their way as they stormed into an 8 point lead on the night. Heat 7 saw some drama as Jake Allen tangled with Richie Worrall coming out of bend 2 and to the astonishment of many inside Armadale Allen was deemed to be at fault and thus he was excluded from the re-run. This left Palm-Toft as the lone Bear against the in-form pairing of Drew Kemp and Richie Worrall. Kemp and Worrall roared from the gate to take another 5-1 to send Edinburgh into a 12 point lead.

Heat 13 saw Redcar’s next heat advantage as one of Redcar’s bright sparks, Lewis Kerr took the win with Wright pipping Masters on the line for a Bears 4-2. Heat 15 saw a fantastic race as Redcar ended their league season with a heat advantage as Kerr stormed from the gate to win with Jake Allen edging out Jason Edwards to take 3rd.

Edinburgh were impressive throughout both legs with Drew Kemp hitting a paid maximum whilst Josh Pickering and Richie Worrall both scored double figures.

Edinburgh What The Fork Monarchs = 57 (108)

1. Sam Masters – FX, 3, 3, 0 = 6
2. Anders Rowe – 2, 0, 3, 1 = 6
3. Kye Thomson – 3, 1′, 1, 2 = 7+1
4. Josh Pickering – 2′, 2, 3, 3, 2 = 12+1
5. Richie Worrall – 3, 2′, 3, 2, X = 10+1
6. Drew Kemp – 2′, 3, 2′, 2′ = 9+3
7. Jason Edwards (G) – 3, 1, 2′, 1′, 0 = 7+2

Redcar Agilia Bears = 33 (72)

1. Charles Wright – 3, 3, 1, 1 = 8
2. James Sarjeant R/R
3. Jake Allen – 1, FX, 2, 3, 1 = 7
4. Michael Palm Toft – 0, 1, F = 1
5. Lewis Kerr – 2, 2, 2, 3, 3 = 12
6. Ryan Kinsley – 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 = 0
7. Jordan Jenkins – 1, 1, 0, 1′, 1, 0, 1 = 5+1
8. Gregor Millar – DNR