MATCH REPORT: Leicester rule the Monarchy

The Leicester Monarchs took a well deserved, yet surprising victory, at their home track in Slater Street on Sunday – the battle of the Monarchs very much going the home sides way.

Both teams were missing key riders, Leicester had two of their main riders unavailable, whilst Birmingham were missing heat leader Ricki Johnson.

After a drawn opening heat, it was the home side who took a solid maximum in heat 2, that set them up for defending that lead from there on in.

Two drawn heats followed, before Phil Widdas was excluded from heat 5 for moving at the tapes, which gifted the home side another point advantage. It wasn’t until heat 9 that the visitors took their first heat advantage through Millward and Hodgkinson. Half time scores; 48-41.

Birmingham’s struggles to build any heat advantages continued in the second half, as the home side continued their solid and consistent display limiting the visitors to one further advantage in heat 18, with the result already secured.

Chris Timms was class personified with a stunning 20 point maximum, but a frustrated Timms commented post match: “Only Hodgkinson, Millward and Groves did their job and three tape exclusions were unacceptable.”

Birmingham scorers: Chris Timms 20 (5), Scott Millward 15 (5), Nathan Groves 12+1 (5), Mark Winwood 12 (5), Paul Timms 10+2 (5), Steve Hodgkinson 8+3 (4), Ewan Hancox 7 (5), Phil Widdas 0 (2).

The second division fixture was a one sided affair, with the home side dominating against a mostly junior team, with only veterans Hodgkinson and Widdas able to take points off Leicester riders.

Birmingham scorers: Hodgkinson 15 (4), Widdas 14 (4), Phipps 9 (5), R Winwood 6 (4), Arkinstall 5 (2), Humphries 4 (3)  A Heagren 4 (4), Steel 2 (2).

The juniors brought some joy by starting the day with a win to continue their unbeaten run this year, romping to a 20 point win. Alex Heagren took his first ever team win.

Birmingham scorers: Ryan Winwood 10+1 (3),  Marc Phipps 9+3 (3),  Connor Steel 9+1 (3), William Arkinstall 8 (2), Rebekah Humphries 7 (2), Alex Heagren 6+1 (2), Ben Heagren 2(2).

Training continues on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6pm for anyone to join in, with free use of bikes and equipment.