NEWS: Coventry League makes successful return

The first round of the revamped Coventry League proved to be a huge success as four teams – Coventry, Bretford, Earlsdon and Brandon – fought until the final heat 18 to decide the winners of the opening round.Held at Coventry’s Hearsall Common track, round 1 saw the four named sides participate with Warwick Royals sitting out this particular round. The Coventry League, last staged 30 years ago, has been revived due to the current boom in cycling. The Coventry League is sponsored by Cycle Coventry.

Led by Kyle Roberts, Brandon Bees didn’t make the strongest start as both Coventry and Earlsdon held a narrow advantage by the half way stage of the meeting. Bretford struggled, however they were yet to mount their attack.

Daniel Drewett, racing for Earlsdon, and Mason Phillips, for Coventry, won their respective joker rides earning their sides 8 points for one single race win.

Eventual winners, Brandon, however, only mounted their challenge in the third round of heats as Kyle Roberts won his joker ride leaving Brandon nursing a one point lead at the top of the standings over Coventry – who were closely followed by Earlsdon with Bretford bringing up the rear.

With only four heats remaining in the meeting, any one of the four teams could still win. Bretford, though five points behind, made the brightest start to the concluding heats with a heat win in heat 13 followed by two second places – at this stage Coventry and Brandon were tied at the top on 39 points apiece.

Daniel Drewett’s win in heat 15 meant Earlsdon were just a point behind Brandon (42) and a point ahead of Coventry (40) with Bretford on 39. The final race of the afternoon saw Kyle Roberts win and earn Brandon the four league points.

The Hearsall Common based outfit face a full programme of racing this weekend. The city juniors will be competing in the British Youth and Junior League at Leicester this Saturday (5^th April) and take a strong squad of junior talent.

Coventry entertain Leicester in a home challenge meeting this Sunday at Hearsall Common – tapes rise at 2pm. With both teams facing a blank date, the two clubs have hastily arranged challenge fixtures at senior and junior level and the matches will provide both clubs with more early season racing.

Team manager Lee Marsh is set to include new signing Kelvin Williams against Leicester at Hearsall Common for his home debut. Shaun Reynolds returns from injury, whilst teenage stars Mason Phillips and Kyle Roberts move up to a heat leader roles.

Coventry team (probable): 1 Konrad Pietak 2 Kelvin Williams 3 Mason Phillips 4 Jake Slatter 5 Kyle Roberts 6 Dave Frith 7 Shaun Reynolds 8 Joe McLaughlin.

For more information on Coventry Cycle Speedway you can visit www.coventrycsc.com, or follow the clubs official Twitter account using @CoventryCSC. News on how to get involved and latest fixtures plus much more are included here.