MATCH REPORT: Birmingham’s depth too much for Coventry

Birmingham did the triple over their great friends from Coventry in Midland League at Perry Hall Park on Sunday.

A weakened Coventry side deserved plenty of credit for attacking the meeting with plenty of gusto and kept a real grip of the match in the early stages. Coventry started the strongest with an opening race 6-4, Ewan Hancox taking the first of his falls challenging for 3rd.

Birmingham took their first heat advantage in the 3rd with an excellent ride by the Monarch duo Smith/Millward to deny the rapid Rycharski, this was also the first time the home side took the lead. Two drawn heats were followed by three 6-4s to go into the interval at 50-40 ahead.

It was the Monarchs who started the second half strong, with a maximum advantage for James and Millward, whilst an excellent backs against the wall ride from Carl Winwood in the 13th to deny Phillips, after his team partner Smith was excluded – limiting the visitors to a 3-6. The home side were still ahead at 70-59.

Heat 14 was the last advantage on the day for either side and featured an excellent race too. Groves won the battle but again it was the battling efforts of Carl Winwood who ended up in 3rd as he tried to deny Rycharski.

With the remaining heats drawn, the final scoreline of a 13 point difference reflected the relative closeness of the match which contained some excellent commited racing from both sides. The match also featured some great commentary by Shaun Reynolds in preparation for the up coming World Championships.

Birmingham 96
Mark Winwood 17, Ewan Hancox 9+1, Ricki Johnson 14+1, Nathan Groves 13+2, Matt Smith 10+1, Scott Millward 13+2, Carl Winwood 10, Andy James 10+1.

Coventry 83
Mason Phillips 10+1, Bobby McMillan 17+1, Myke Grimes 19, Charlie Barnett 7, Dominik Rycharski 15, Jake Slatter 6, Spencer Sawbridge 4+1, Josh Marsh 5.

In the following second division clash, the home side held the edge despite 9 of the 13 heats being drawn. Maximums in heats 4 and 7 featured Ewan Hancox, who raced unbeaten after a bruising battle with Joe McLaughlin, who finally managed to battle round the Coventry veteran on the last lap of Heat 2. Talking of veterans it was again Paul Timms who raced to an untroubled maximum whilst Ieaun Payne again showed some excellent track skills, particularly his gating.

Birmingham 69-5=64
Steve Hodgkinson 13, Emily Pitt 6, Ewan Hancox 16+2, Ieaun Payne 14, Paul Timms 16, Natalie Timms 4.

Coventry 61- 15 = 46
Shaun Reynolds 9, Ollie Morris 10+2, Charlie Barnett 10+2, Sammi Marsh 10+2, Jake Slatter 11, Spencer Sawbridge 8+2, Joe McLaughlin 5+2.

The mini Monarchs continued their unbeaten run with a 10 point victory over the young Devlins. The away side certainly had the Star rider in Jimmy Wassall who took a paid maximum, but yet again each Monarch took double figure scores with Connor Steel top scoring.

Birmingham 45
Billy Winwood 10+2, Ryan Winwood 11, Marc Phipps 10+4, Connor Steel 14.

Coventry 35
Bailie Phillips 8, Jimmy Wassall 15+1, Wyatt Jacobs 4, Jack Reynolds 3, Ronnie Wassall 2, Sam Slatter 3.