BRUMMIES 55 REDCAR 35

Wednesday July 21, 2021
BIRMINGHAM booked their place in the Championship Knockout Cup Quarter-Finals with a first win of the season in front of their home supporters.

The Edwards Plumbing Brummies beat Redcar 55-35 at Perry Barr, completing a 99-81 aggregate victory over the defending holders.

After a difficult start to the season in the Second City, this felt like a night where the Brummies' campaign really kicked into life with a solid all-round team display.

Classy German Erik Riss returned from injury in superb fashion dropping just one point to an opposing rider while captain Chris Harris made it three double figure returns on the spin.

After failing to trouble the scorers in last week's home defeat to Scunthorpe, Italian favourite Paco Castagna returned to form with two wins on his way to eight points.

After a tough run, local lad Ashley Morris also rediscovered his true form with a paid double figure total.

Crowd pleaser James Shanes was in the thick of the action all night long as he provided another steady, yet important contribution from the middle order while Valentin Grobauer, another rider back from injury, also provided encouraging moments on his way to five-points.

That was a tally matched by reserve Jack Thomas despite a nasty looking tumble in his second outing.
And club co-owner David Mason was delighted with what he saw from his side.

"First and foremost it's fantastic news that we've got through," he said.

"The team worked as a team, the atmosphere in the pits was brilliant and it proved on the track as well.

"The guys were making superb gates tonight in the main - and even when they weren't they were passing their guys and there was some really, really good racing it has to be said.

"Just as we thought we were sitting pretty comfortably Redcar hit back with a couple of 4-2s.

"But the boys went out in style with three 5-1s at the end and it was a great way to round things off.

"Everyone did their job, it was the definition of a full team performance and this is a real platform to build on and at just the right time too because from next week it's non-stop for us."

The Brummies now have a week gap as they gear up for a busy run which sees them face three fixtures in four days.

They head to Edinburgh and Leicester next Friday (July 30) and Saturday (July 31) respectively - but first it's the visit of Plymouth to Perry Barr next Wednesday (July 28, 7.30).

BIRMINGHAM 55: Erik Riss 13+1, Chris Harris 10+3, Ashley Morris 8+2, Paco Castagna 8, James Shanes 6+1, Valentin Grobauer 5+1, Jack Thomas 5.
REDCAR 35: Jake Allen 13, Michael Palm Toft 9, Josh MacDonald 5+1, Charles Wright 4, Drew Kemp 2, Dan Thompson 2, Jordan Stewart r/r.
Birmingham win 99-81 on aggregate.


Share This:   Facebook Twitter