Heavy rain and a poor weather forecast destroyed Redcar Bears’ hopes of exacting revenge on Sheffield Tigers as their re-match at the Media Prima Arena - part of the South Tees Motorsports Park complex - was called off around midday (Friday).
The two sides met in the League Cup Northern Qualifying Group on Thursday in South Yorkshire and the Tigers triumphed 47-40.
But, with the injury-hit Bears restored to seven riders, having called up Newcastle’s Ludvig Lindgren as a guest for Stuart Robson, the Ecco Finishing Bears were quietly confident of turning the tables.
Sheffield would have been without a dangerous reserve in reigning British Under-21 Champion Josh Bates, who piled up heavily at Owlerton, while veteran former Premier League Riders Champion Andre Compton was also rated as “doubtful”after suffering a fall.
But the waterlogged Teesside circuit meant that the Bears must wait until next Thursday, when they entertain local rivals Newcastle, to look for their first win of the season.
That should give a bruised and battered skipper Stuart Robson enough time to make a return from injury.
Young Bears reserve Ben Morley is in action at Mildenhall on Sunday where he bids to qualify from this year’s British Under-21 Championship semi-final.
Morley, who also races in the amateur National League for Kent Kings, turned 21 last month, so this year represents his last chance of lifting the junior crown taken by Teesside’s former World Champion Havelock in 1986.
Mark Courtney also celebrated success in the competition wearing Middlesbrough colours six years earlier.
No re-staging date has yet been set for Redcar’s match against Sheffield and, although the Bears have several spare dates on their fixture list, the meeting will almost certainly have to take place on a Friday again as the Tigers also have Thursday as their regular race night.
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