MATCH REPORT: Dragons slain at Perry Bar
Birmingham Monarchs demolished the Dragons yesterday at Perry Hall Park in Midland League Division one action. The Dragons were missing top rider Brandon Whetton, whilst Birmingham were boosted by the first appearance for Scott Millward, who effectively replaced the absent Andy James.
Three maximums in the first four heats saw the home side dominate from the off and whilst the Wednesfield side fought hard and didn’t make it easy for the Birmingham men, it was all too often the home side who came out on top.
Nine of the eighteen heats went the way of maximums for the home side, however the racing certainly wasnt. All of the Dragons side can take pride in good effort and although the scoreline showed it was one way traffic, the fight from the Dragons never diminished.
Matt Smith and Chris Timms both secured paid maximums – reward for Timms who followed his team partner home in all his five heats. Ricki Johnson dropped a single point to Chris Jewkes whilst Millward weighed in with paid 18 points.
Mark Winwood took four wins, only a fall prevented a potential maximum too. For the Dragons, Chris Jewkes top scored.
BIRMINGHAM MONARCHS 109 – Chris Timms 15+5(5), Mark Winwood 17(5), Scott millward 17+1(5), Ricki Johnson 16+3(5), Nathan Groves 13(5), Matt Smith 19+1(5), Ewan Hancox 6(3), Carl Winwood 6(3).
WEDNESFIELD DRAGONS 70 – Troy Allen 9(5), Hayden Rowley 11(5), Harry Everiss 11(5), Tom Haddock 8+2(5), Carl Parfitt 6(5), Chris Jewkes 14(5), Connor Dyke 6+1(4), Mick Aris 5(2).
Wednesfield also brought an Under 14 team and as they had extra riders, the format was extended to 6 man teams and a 13 heat format was used.
The match was nip and tuck throughout with the lead changes hands all the way through if not the scores were level.
The kids gave some excellent committed racing throughout, that had the crowds on their feet with excitement. Connor Steel took two wins on his way to an excellent 13 points whilst Billy Winwood and Marc Phipps rode superbly helping their team partners to extra points.
A final race 6-4 to the young Wednesfield team saw the scores level after 13 heats of superb racing – probably the best result on the day.
Midland Junior League (Challenge)
BIRMINGHAM MONARCHS 64 – Billy Winwood 14(5), Ryan Winwood 8+2(4), Marc Phipps 15+2(5), Connor Steel 13+1(4), Finlay Burden 6(4), Boyd Haynes 8+1(4).
WEDNESFIELD 64 – Tyler Bould 16+1(5), Todd Rowley 3(3), Kyle Ryan 15(4), Macey Burden 8+2(4), Georgia Burt 11(4), Corey Burt 3(3), Megan Burt 8(3).
This was followed by the Birmingham leg of the Coventry League. Due to the format, the meeting was close throughout as all 4 teams battled into the meeting. With the`joker` card being deployed by both Birmingham and Earlsdon, both teams were back in the meeting to still be in contention towards the end of the meeting.
All kinds of scenarios could still happen, in the last race with 3 teams separated by 3 points, Coventry’s Jimmy Wassall holding out Warwick`s guest, Kyle Ryan, in the battle for the minor places that saw both teams level after 20 heats.
Matt Hambidge looked in superb form racing to a superb maximum. All league race points are carried over, so Birmingham have some points to pull back in the remaining 3 legs in Coventry and Leicester.
Coventry League at Birmingham.
Birmingham 49 – Ewan Hancox 20(4) * , Emily Pitt 10 (4), Billy Winwood 8(4), Ryan Winwood 4(4), Connor Steel 7(4).
Warwick 53 – Matt Hambridge 20(5), Spencer Sawbridge 17(5), Kyle Ryan (Guest) 12(6), Marc Phipps (Guest) 4(3).
Coventry 53 – Charlie Barnett 18(5), Jimmy Wassall 16(6), Samantha Jayne Marsh 15(5), James Morris 4(4).
Earlsdon 52 – Dan Drewett 19(4),* Ollie Morris 18(6), Ben Wells 11(6), Jack Reynolds 4(4).
* denotes joker ride