Gritty Glasgow beat Bears
Redcar’s slim play-off hopes were officially ended as they fell to a 48-42 away defeat at Glasgow. After heat 2, the Bears led until heat 10 but the Tigers came on strong late in the match to keep their own play-off dreams alive. Chris Harris and Leon Flint were the stars for Glasgow with 13+2 and 12 respectively whilst Charles Wright (13+1) and Jason Edwards (10+1) led Redcar’s challenge. Nevertheless, Redcar did take home the aggregate bonus point for their efforts with a 88-92 success.
The opening race saw Charles Wright and Danyon Hume make the gate for Redcar but Harris passed both Bears for the win to ensure a shared heat in Scotland. The reserves race saw Glasgow take an early lead as the in-form James Pearson took the win, and with Glasgow’s guest, Tom Spencer 3rd ahead of Ben Trigger, the 2023 Champions had the early initiative.
However, heat three saw Redcar turn the tables as Hume took a comfortable win, and with Edwards doing well to hold off Anders Rowe, Redcar now had the lead on a must win evening. Heat four saw Jake Mulford and Danny King gate, however, Flint passed both of the Redcar men to take the win, but with Spencer at the back, Redcar’s two point lead remained intact.
After a shared heat five won by the ever consistent Charles Wright, heat six produced fireworks as Harris passed King for the win but with Trigger passing Jack Smith, the Bears kept their noses in front at Ashfield.
Flint continued his good start to the meeting with another chequered flag in another shared heat. The run of shared races was ended by the Bears as Edwards won comfortably, and with Mulford in 3rd, Redcar had a four point advantage on away shale.
Nevertheless, the Tigers immediately brought themselves back within two points of Redcar as Rowe got the better of King, and with Trigger at the back, Glasgow had their second heat advantage. The hosts then took the lead with their first 5-1 of the match as the in-form Pearson took another win, and with Harris 2nd, the Glasgow fans were starting to breathe a little easier.
Heat 11 saw Wright return to the winners column for the 2nd time, but with Trigger unable to hold off Pearson, Redcar remained two adrift. Glasgow then doubled their lead to four points as Rowe took another heat win, and with Pearson passing Hume, Glasgow were edging closer to a home win.
Heat 13 saw Harris take the win, and with Flint doing enough to hold onto 3rd ahead of King, Glasgow were six ahead with two races remaining. However, Gavin Parr played his tactical substitute as Wright joined Edwards in heat 14 and the change worked perfectly as Redcar hit a 5-1 to set up a last heat decider at Ashfield.
The final race saw Glasgow (who deferred their gate selection to heat 15) choose gates 1 & 3. Flint won from the gate, and with Harris getting the better of Wright after a nip and tuck battle, Glasgow secured a six point success on home shale.
Glasgow Tigers = 48 (88)
1. Chris Harris = 13+2 (Paid Maximum)
2. Jack Smith = 0
3. Anders Rowe = 9
4. Matic Ivacic = 2+1
5. Leon Flint = 12
6. James Pearson = 11+1
7. Tom Spencer (G) = 1
Redcar Bears = 42 (92)
1. Charles Wright = 13+1
2. Dan Gilkes R/R = 4+1
3. Danyon Hume (G) = 6+2
4. Jason Edwards = 10+1
5. Danny King = 5+1
6. Ben Trigger = 1+1
7. Jake Mulford = 7
