MATCH REPORT: Hancox shines for Birmingham against Dragons
The Monarchs, even without injured number one Chris Timms, proved too strong for the Wednesfield Dragons on Sunday at Perry Hall Park, with the Dragons also having heat leader, Brandon Whetton, missing.
Honours were shared in the opening heat before Groves/Paul Timms took a maximum in heat 2. That was quickly followed by another maximum in heat 4 for Hancox and Millward after heat 3 was drawn.
The next three heats were all advantages to the home side, before the Dragons registered only their 2nd winner of the day, with Jewkes winning heat 8 before they secured their first heat advantage in the 9th, after Millward was excluded for a tapes infringement. The damage slightly limited, after Hodgkinson took the win, leaving the scores at the interval, 52-36.
After the break the Dragons claimed the inside grids, but the Monarchs opened up with a Winwood/Johnson maximum leading to a 20 point advantage to the home side.
Heat 11 proved successful for the visitors, after Groves’ all action effort resulted in a last place finish and likewise heat 12, after Winwood was excluded from a battling heat for forcing Parfitt wide.
Heat 13 was shared with battles at the front and the back, before Timms and Millward took a clinical maximum in the 14th.
Heats 16 & 17 saw both sides taking advantages, whilst the 15th and 18th heats were shared to keep the scores at a 21 point difference.
Once again, another backs against the wall performance from an understrength Monarchs side, with all 8 riders giving 100%.
Ewan Hancox. Photo by Paul Devine.
Performer of the day has to be 16 year old Ewan Hancox who dropped a single point and top scored on the day.
Birmingham Monarchs 99
Ewan Hancox 18+1 (5), Phil Widdas 5 (2), Nathan Groves 12+2 (5), Paul Timms 15+1 (5), Steve Hodgkinson 13+2 (5), Ricki Johnson 16+1 (5), Scott Millward 11+3 (5), Mark Winwood 9 (4).
Wednesfield Dragons 78
The mini Monarchs were in action on Saturday at East Park in the 2nd round of the BYJL.
Connor Steel made it two wins out of two by winning the U10’s with Dylan Hawtin 4th.
In the U14’s, three Monarchs made the B Final – Ryan Winwood 1st, William Arkinstall 2nd, Marc Phipps 4th.
Ewan Hancox took another second place in the U17’s.