MATCH REPORT: Birmingham dominate proceedings against Leicester
Birmingham took a rather comprehensive victory over Leicester at Perry Hall Playing Fields yesterday. The Monarchs of Leicester used Coventry rider Bobby McMillan as a guest with his points not counting in the final total.
Birmingham hit hard from the off with Smith a comfortable winner of Heat 1, whilst Millward had a tough encounter with Marchant for third and finally made a pass on the final bend. Timms and Mark Winwood taking maximum points in the 2nd and a further two heat advantages in 5 and 6 saw the Perry Barr men clear at 37-23.
Two further advantages in heats 8 and 9 took Birmingham into the half time break clear 55-34. The full strength Birmingham side had way too much for the visitors, as the second half opened with maximum points for James and Johnson, and the West Midlands Monarchs continued in the same way as the first half.
The visitors, whilst able to hold Birmingham to 3 drawn heats, lacked the strength to gain any heat advantages throughout the match, as the lead continued to grow throughout the encounter. Heat 18 proved to be the race of the day with positions undetermined until the chequered flag.
For the Birmingham Monarchs, Matt Smith took 4 comfortable wins, his only disappointment being held by McMillan in heat 7, whilst man of the match went to Nathan Groves who dropped his only point to McMillan in heat 3.
Every Birmingham rider rode to their potential, with 6 different races winners, Johnson took a paid win, whilst world number 2, captain Chris Timms took 3 paid wins, helping his team partner each time.
BIRMINGHAM MONARCHS 108
Scott Millward 14+1 (5), Matt Smith 17 (5), Chris Timms 13+4 (5), Mark Winwood 14+1 (4), Nathan Groves 17+2 (5), Ricki Johnson 13+1 (5), Carl Winwood 10 (4), Andy James 10 (3).
LEICESTER MONARCHS 59 (71 – 12 points from guest)
Nicky Whitehead 6 (5), Craig Marchant 13 (5), Kevin Burns 11+1 (5), Mark Whitehead 11 (5), Bobby McMillan (guest) 12+1 (5), Mike Baldock 11+1(5), Michelle Whitehead 4 (3) , Matt Hartshorne 3 (3).
The second team match proved slightly tighter. Two drawn heats started proceedings, before a first home advantage in the third lead by Ieuan Payne. Leicester took a big 7-3 in heat 6 to narrow the score to 32-28, whilst a further advantage in the eighth narrowed it further to just 2 points.
Advantages in the ninth and eleventh gave the home side a 7 point advantage, whilst the drawn penultimate heat ensured the win was in the bag. Doherty won the final race for the visitors.
BIRMINGHAM MONARCHS 62 (67 – 5 penalty points)
Carl Winwood 11(4), Emily Pitt 7 (5), Paul Timms 16 (4), Natalie Timms 5 (4), Ieaun Payne 17+1 (5), Steve Hodgkinson 11 (4).
LEICESTER MONARCHS 52 (62 – 10 penalty points)
Michelle Whitehead 9+1 (4), Elizabeth Rigley 10+1 (4), Matt Hartshorne 11 (4), Jenna Whitehead 9+1 (5), Luke Whitehead 12+1 (4), Liam Doherty 11+1 (5).
The mini Monarchs continued their winning ways with a comfy win over the junior Leicester side. Birmingham gave debuts to 3 new riders that have been training for just over a month and all had dream debuts winning their first rides! Marc Phipps took a paid maximum whilst he and Billy Winwood helped the newcomers with some superb team riding. The mini Monarchs are yet to be beaten this year so far.
BIRMINGHAM MONARCHS 82
Billy Winwood 13+2 (4), Sam Singh 13+2 (5), Ryan Winwood 12+2 (4), Connor Steel 12+2 (4), Marc Phipps 13+3 (4), William Arkinstall 10(3), Arsh Singh 9 (3).
LEICESTER MONARCHS 48
Max Wells 7 (4), Kyle Wells 10+1 (5), Chloe Whitehead 11 (4), Honey Whitehead 8 (5), Amanda Rigley 8 (4), Charmaine Wells 4 (4