MATCH REPORT: Dragons power to victory over 6 man Monarchs

Club champions Birmingham were brought bruisingly back down to earth, with a hefty defeat at the home of the Wednesfield Dragons yesterday. The Club Championship winners from a day earlier arrived with only six riders, whilst captain Chris Timms arrived late due to a SatNav error and was unable to take part.

Monarchs veterans Steve Hodgkinson and Paul Timms filled 2 of the places. Birmingham started brightly enough with a heat 2 maximum to move 9-11 ahead, although the home side responded with 2 heat advantages to retake the lead. Another maximum in heat 8 from Millward/James narrowed the gap to 4, but with only one rider in heat 9, Mark Winwood split the home duo to keep the margin respectable at the halfway stage (47-40).

Carl Winwood took an impressive win in heat 10 as the club’s only representative but the mid point of the 2nd half saw the visitors struggle, with Timms and Hodgkinson the Monarchs’ only representatives in heats 14 & 15  both riders splitting the home sides pairings.

Crucially though, Carl Winwood was the only race winner for the Monarchs in the second half with the Dragons finishing in a flurry, the manner of defeat became a heavy one for Birmingham.

Scott Millward led the scorers whilst Birmingham’s man of the match Carl Winwood chipped in with paid 15. On the positive side all scorers took double figure scores in what was a tough day for the reigning Midland Champions.

WEDNESFIELD DRAGONS 102
Chris Jewkes 19+1, Carl Parfitt 10, Haydn Rowley 15, Matt Haddock 14+1, Brandon Whetton 20, Harrie Everiss 12+2, Alex Aris 6,  Mick Aris 6+1.

BIRMINGHAM MONARCHS 71
Scott Millward 16, Andy James 10+1, Mark Winwood 12+1, Carl Winwood 13+2, Paul Timms 10+1, Steve Hodgkinson 10, no number 7, no number 8.