After yet another postponement on Thursday evening due to the weather, the Redcar TLS Bears travelled to Wales on Sunday hoping to kickstart their League season against Newport Wasps. The Wasps had struggled in their opening fixtures this season, and hopes were high the Bears would be able to pull off an away victory.

The Bears injury hoodoo was to strike again though, as already missing broken leg victim Chris Kerr, Dan Giffard pulled out of the meeting with a virus. He was replaced by Edinburgh and Redcar Cub rider Aaron Summers. The Bears started off well, taking the lead as early as the second heat with the impressive Summers winning in style.  The Bears continued to extend their advantage over the coming heats, with Havelock, Grieves and Ty Proctor in particular riding very well indeed. After 8 heats of the meeting Redcar were 12 points ahead, and a Bears rider had won every single race.

It was looking like a comfortable victory for the Bears, until once again injury struck! In Heat 10, Josh Auty picked up some unexpected drive and lost control of his bike. His bike then ploughed into James Grieves and then through the safety fence, taking both riders with them. After lengthy treatment Auty walked to the pits, and Grieves took a ride back to the pits in the Ambulance. Both riders were subsequently withdrawn from the meeting with knocks, leaving the Bears up against it to hold on to their lead. To make things worse, Newports Craig Watson was on a double points tactical ride in the re-run, and the Bears lead was slashed to 5. They now only had 4 fit riders to ride for the rest of the meeting, with 2 of those being reserves!

With 4 races to go, The Bears led by only a single point and it looked like the momentum was with the Welsh side. However a monumental effort in the last 4 races from Havelock, Bugeja, Summers and Proctor ensured that the Bears won by a single point to claim their first away victory this season! Captain Gary Havelock led the way superbly with 14 points, Ty Proctor weighed in with 11 and guest Aaron Summers scored a superb 10+2.

The Bears may be left to pay the price for this victory though, as Auty was taken to hospital with suspected concussion whilst James Grieves is still very sore and Ty Proctor also picked up a knock after falling in the final heat.

The Bears are next in action on Thursday evening at the South Tees Motorsports park against Mildenhall in the Knockout Trophy. The action starts at 7:30.