Coventry went down battling to the end in losing 109-88 at Horspath Hammers (Oxford) last Sunday afternoon in their final away Elite League match of the season.
On a heavy track following persistent overnight rain, Coventry kept things tight in the early stages by restricting multiple Elite League champions Horspath to a succession of drawn heats.
Hopes were high for the visitors after a Myke Grimes/Andy Angell heat 6 race advantage, pegging back the scores back to 38-32, that Coventry could spring a surprise on the small rural Oxfordshire village track.
However, Coventry did not have enough top end firepower to trouble the flying home side, who are on course to win the league. Coventry were then dealt a further blow when three times British champion Angell withdrew from the match at half time, complaining of being unwell.
Coventry trailed by 55 – 43 at the half way mark, heat 10, and although they provided three heat winners in the latter stages in Grimes, the once again impressive Ben Higham and fast improving Mike Baldock, they eventually slid to their third away defeat of the campaign.
Coventry point scorers:
Myke Grimes 16, Ben Higham 14, Jake Read 13, Adam Watson 12, Mike Baldock 10, Andy Angell 8, Mason Phillips 6, Chris Parish 5 and Dan Drewett 3.
Brandon Bees are in under 16s action today (Saturday 1st October), when they travel to East Park Wolves in Wolverhampton in a junior challenge. It will be the Bees first match outside of Coventry since their stunning revival in July.
Brandon Bees team:
1 Amy Baynes 2 Owen Gregory 3 Cameron Gill 4 Jony Wilkinson 5 Tom Savage 6 Lee Gregory 7 Joseph Augustus 8 Thomas Pearson.
Coventry juniors are also in action at East Park Wolves today, following the East Park V Brandon Bees match. Team manager Lee Marsh has named an eight rider side, many of them recruits from the popular Wednesday night `Clubnight` sessions at Hearsall Common.
Coventry team:
1 Jack Reynolds 2 Jacob Slezak 3 Harry Hibbert 4 Jacob Clifford 5 James Bridge-Wilkinson 6 Wyatt Jacobs 7 James Morris 8 Lewis Fry.
To complete a hectic weekend, Coventry go to Leicester on Sunday in Midland League matches. The action gets underway at 1pm with Coventry juniors in division 3 racing, followed by the senior match at 2pm. The second team fixture then follows at 3.30pm.