MATCH REPORT: Hancox stars in defeat of Newport
Ewan Hancox raced to a magnificent 19 points as the Monarchs took victory over Newport in Cross Over league action on Sunday at Perry Hall Playing Fields. The 17 year old coming of age as he top scored for Birmingham with the home side winning 94-82.
Both teams had riders missing, with second team riders filling in, resulting in fairly balanced looking teams and a close encounter was expected.
With a run of three opening drawn heats, it was going to take some on track moments and refereeing decisions to potentially move the match one way or another. Newport will probably point to 3 refereeing decisions that put them on the back foot.
The first of those in heat 4 saw Dan Bock excluded for moving at the start, Birmingham capitalising with a Winwood/Hodgkinson maximum 7-2 breaking the deadlock. A further maximum in the sixth (Hancox/Groves) was however nullified with the Stars taking their own maximum in the seventh. The next 2 heats were drawn with the interval scoreline 47-42.
Newport suffered their second infringement for movement at the start in heat 11 but were able to take some consolation by winning the race, although it was a 5-4 advantage to the Monarchs (57-51).
The Hancox/Groves partnership increased the advantage in heat 13 whilst controversy ruled in heat 14. In a tight tussle Newport man Dale Clarke was thrown out of the race on the third lap after making a pass with no communication given to either team manager of the reasoning. A potential drawn heat turned into a Monarchs 6-3 and a stretched scoreline. (74-63).
When Paul Timms crossed the finish line in first in heat 16 the home side were as good as home dry, whilst the last two races saw maximum advantages to both teams one apiece.
The Monarchs’ riders had seven of the eight team members taking at least one paid win on the day in a solid team effort. For the Stars, Chris Davies raced to three heat wins whilst former Monarch, Jack Harrold, was unbeaten but for a tapes exclusion.
Result:
BIRMINGHAM MONARCHS 94
Ewan Hancox 19 (5), Chris Timms 17+1 (5), Mark Winwood 14 (5), Nathan Groves 12 (5), Paul Timms 11 (4), Steve Hodgkinson 9+1 (4), James Chattin 9+1 (5), Jake Steel3 (3)
NEWPORT 82
There was a friendly 2nd division match to follow with the emphasis very much on friendly!
Newport 1st team riders took on a team of junior Monarchs with the youngsters coming out on top, very much due to Newport riders racing each other and letting the kids take some very valuable scalps!
Birmingham travel to Wednesfield next Sunday (16th July) in a crucial league fixture. The action starts at 1pm.
The Monarchs again had a presence at the Sutton Games on Saturday with nearly 200 youngsters coming to visit and try out the sport.
Keep up to date with Birmingham Monarchs news at birminghammonarchs.wordpress.com and follow the Monarchs on Twitter with the handle @brummonarchs.