MATCH REPORT: Coventry post highest ever BYJL score and East Park v Coventry
Coventry Devlins Newsagents Cycle Speedway junior team were in fine form in the British Junior League round 2 at a rain affected Hearsall Common last Saturday.
Facing opponents from six clubs and over 50 riders, the city whizz kids produced their finest ever performance in the national competition in totalling 114 points to take second place overall. Both were records for the Coventry club.
Girl racers Baillie Phillips and Sammi Marsh led the way for Coventry and there were fine performances too from Spencer Sawbridge, Kyle Roberts, Josh Marsh and Mason Phillips.
Unfortunately, fast improving 15 year old Charlie Barnett crashed spectacularly and had to withdraw from the meeting. He was admitted to hospital on Saturday evening and faces surgery on a snapped tendon.
The Coventry Devlins Newsagents senior team were also in action last weekend, going down 104-73 at East Park Wolves in the Midland League against the current league leaders.
Without several first choice riders, including Mason Phillips, Joe Kemp, Dominik Rycharski, Tom Sensicall and Shaun Reynolds, Coventry were up against it from the start. They battled hard in unfavourable conditions but were always competitive in a sporting affair.
East Park started the meeting strongly with three successive 7-3’s maximum reverses. Wolves rider Jamie Ball scored a faultless paid 20 maximum and received strong support from team mates Matt Smith and Jack Hibberd.
Myke Grimes led the Coventry attack once again with 17+1 points, only losing out to an alarming first race fall, whilst Kyle Roberts, Dave Frith, Konrad Pietak and Daniel Drewett chipped in with double figure returns.
In the combination fixture, Coventry recorded a superb away victory beating East Park’s junior side by 67 points to 63. Daniel Drewett team rode superbly to allow Spencer Sawbridge to pick up six vital points early on whilst heat wins were also collected by Josh Marsh, Kyle Roberts and Ollie Morris.*
Local Cycle Speedway action in the Coventry area this Saturday centres on Bretford, with the Bulldogs hosting the third round of the British Youth & Junior League at Brandon Road Playing Fields, Bretford. The event starts at midday with free admission, refreshments and a full afternoon’s racing on offer.
The Devlins Newsagents return to league action this Sunday (18.5.14) afternoon when they travel to Salter St, Leicester, for a keenly awaited East Midlands local derby at 2pm.
For more information on Coventry Cycle Speedway, including how to get involved, you can visit www.coventrycsc.com or follow the club on Twitter using @CoventryCSC.
* Coventry did receive 10 penalty points for using Danny Drewett after he appeared earlier in the ML1 fixture and is over 16. Making the final score East Park 73 – 67 Coventry.