Big weekend in Bears' title bid

RESULTS this weekend could go a long way to making or breaking Redcar's Championship dreams as they take on Plymouth Gladiators at home tonight then make the long trip to Devon for the return 24 hours later.

- By KEITH McGHIE

Nearest rivals Oxford also face back-to-back matches and cannot afford to lose either as the Agilia Bears lie two points ahead in the table and still have five matches remaining, as opposed to the Cheetahs' three.

The Devon outfit, looking much stronger since the recent acquisition of veteran seven-time British champion Scott Nicholls, also remain in the race for a top-four finish but need to outpoint Redcar in this weekend's clashes.

So tonight's encounter can go a long way towards extending the Bears' league season into the knockout stages and, having so many times suffered for the lack of Erik Riss through illness, Gavin Parr's men are confident they have the right replacements to do the job.