MATCH REPORT: Monarchs go top
Birmingham Monarchs went top of the table in Division One on Sunday, with a resounding win over a depleted Coventry side.
The Monarchs also remain without their number one and World number 2, Chris Timms, through injury but for the third meeting in a row the Monarchs riders stepped up to the plate with solid racing and scoring.
Heat 1 saw Coventry’s star man Myke Grimes take victory, and he proved a class above racing to a paid maximum from 5 rides. His race to deny Johnson whilst protecting his young team partner Wassall upfront was sublime in heat 5.
However the respite for the visitors was short. Heats 2-4 were all maximums to the home side, with a further one before the break in heat 9 courtesy of Hancox and Millward bringing the half time score to 51-36.
The second half saw the home side step up the pace with three consecutive maximums and conceded only one heat, the final race went to the visitors to end with some pride.
The dominance of Grimes meant no home rider finished unbeaten. Winwood was beaten twice, whilst captain Scott Millward saw his own maximum ended in heat 16.
Paul Timms rolled back the years with an excellent paid 19 score, his only defeat to the Coventry number one.
Paul Timms (leading) and Scott Millward (second) were in fine form for the Monarchs. Photo by Paul Devine.
BIRMINGHAM MONARCHS 108 V COVENTRY 68
Steve Hodgkinson 16+1 (5), Marc Phipps 1 (1), Mark Winwood 17+1 (5), Paul Timms 16+3 (5), Ewan Hancox 15 (5), Nathan Groves 14+2 (5), Scott Millward 14 +4 (5), Ricki Johnson 15+2 (5).
The second team were beaten by a solid Coventry side, whilst the home side used 4 juniors in the meeting.
Ewan Hancox was involved in some thrilling racing but lost his maximum with a bruising battle with the excellent Josh Marsh in heat 15. Phil Widdas offered good support with a solid contribution.
The juniors found the going tough although young Marc Phipps excelled with a double figure score.
BIRMINGHAM 53 (69-16 PENALTY POINTS) v COVENTRY 64 (80-16 PENALTY POINTS )
Ewan Hancox 17+2 (5), Emily Pitt 5 (4), Phil Widdas 12+1 (4), Marc Phipps 11+2 (5), William Arkinstall 3 (3), Natalie Timms 6+1 (4), Ryan Winwood 6 (2), Billy Winwood 8 (3).
The juniors made it 2 wins out of 2 with a 48-32 comprehensive victory with all 4 riders in double figures – Marc Phipps 11+3, Connor Steel 13+1, Ryan Winwood 12+2, Billy Winwood 12+2.