MATCH REPORT: Poole win entertaining match against Birmingham

Report by Graham Sutton

The English Charity Shield was aimed at providing a top class window for team cycle speedway and the encounter between the Comets and the Monarchs certainly entertained the crowd at sun-drenched Harbourside Park with excellent racing throughout. The visitors demonstrated their credentials with two race wins in the opening 3 heats but the hosts hit back with two maximum scores and steadily increased their advantage until the final race when Ben Donohue took a tumble which saw the Comets concede a 6 – 3 which limited their margin of victory to 12 points..

Ben Mould continued his rich vein of form with another maximum return, the highlight coming in heat 7 when he powered his way past Paul Heard after an epic wheel to wheel encounter. Despite the continuing absence of Fraser Garnett, the Comets were solid from 1 to 8 and packed plenty of scoring power while the Monarchs tended to lean heavily on their twin spearhead of Chris Timms and Paul Heard for the bulk of their points.

POOLE DOLPHIN CENTRE COMETS 95 BIRMINGHAM MONARCHS 83

Poole: Ben Mould 20, Aaron Smith 14, Nathan Goulden 13, Wil Bristowe 13, Matt Mildon 11, Jay Briggs 11, Ben Donohue 10, Kenzie Bennett 3 (1r)

Birmingham: Paul Heard 19, Chris Timms 15, Scott Millward 12, Mark Winwood 11, Carl Winwood 8, Ricky Johnson 8, Jake Steel 6, Ryan Winwood 4

Referee – Dean Hook