Bears see off Comets but fall to the Bandits

REDCAR consolidated their position at the top of the BSN Series Northern Group with a backs-tothe-wall performance against a Workington side contesting their first match of the season.

- By KEITH McGHIE

A chaotic opening saw the Bears lose both reserves to injury in the same heat-two incident.

Tom Spencer was adjudged to have been taken down by a passing Vinnie Foord, falling in the path of and being unavoidably struck by team-mate Ace Pijper, with both undergoing considerable attention on the track before being ruled out of further action by the paramedic.

Spencer went to hospital with a damaged ankle, while Pijper suffered shoulder damage - both being forced to miss the following night's cup tie at Berwick.

That led to the home side contesting no fewer than five races with just one rider but, with Charles Wright beaten only by Troy Batchelor in heat one, guest Anders Rowe winning his first three races and Danny King chipping in with determined display, the brave but crippled Bears built a 16-point cushion by twothirds distance.