A youthful Coventry side couldn’t produce the goods on Sunday afternoon at Perry Hall Playing Fields against powerhouse side Birmingham in the Midland League, though team manager Lee Marsh was delighted with the overall performance.
Missing several top riders including Bobby McMillan, Dominik Rycharski and Kyle Roberts, Coventry called upon teenagers Ollie Morris, Ben Wells, Jimmy Walsall and Matt Hambidge to step up to the first team.
Leamington based racer Shaun Reynolds made his first appearance of the season while Myke Grimes, Daniel Drewett and Matt Lawrence spearheaded the Coventry attack.
Birmingham announced their intent early on with maximum race advantages in the opening four heats, illustrating their immense strength. They are the current Midland League leaders.
A standout moment for Coventry though came in heat 5 when first team debutant Jimmy Wassall superbly won ahead of skipper Grimes and Birmingham`s former European Junior Champion Ricki Johnson.
A slick switch to the inside racing line heading into bend one of lap one ensured Grimes could team ride Johnson out of the equation leaving young Wassall to earn Coventry’s a rare moment of celebration.
Coventry clawed the home side back a further point in the following race with Ben Wells and Matt Lawrence teaming up for a 5-4 heat advantage – with Coventry trailing 51-36 at the half way stage.
Birmingham eventually posted a commanding 108-70 victory. Myke Grimes shone for Coventry with a faultless maximum, though Coventry members agreed Jimmy Wassall deserved to be ‘rider of the day’ with maximum effort in each of his four rides.
Post-match, Coventry team manager Lee Marsh said: "That was a tough meeting but we knew it was always going to be that way.
"Jimmy was outstanding and the lads put some effort in this afternoon so you can’t fault the performance.
"It’s good experience for the youngsters and I’m excited for the future that all of them have."
Coventry point scorers: Myke Grimes 19, Dan Drewett 12, Matt Lawrence 11, Jimmy Wassall 9, Ollie Morris 6, Matt Hambidge 5, Ben Wells 5 and Shaun Reynolds 3.
The Hearsall Common racers hit back to take the Midland League division 2 match over their Birmingham counterparts by 80 points to 69. Josh Marsh was in outstanding form on his return to competitive racing.
Coventry point scorers: Ben Wells 15, Josh Marsh 14, Shaun Reynolds 13, Ollie Morris 13, Sammi Marsh 12 and Joe Andrews 8.
The Coventry juniors lost out to Birmingham 48-32 in the final match of the afternoon in the Midland League, division 3, fixture.
Coventry points scorers: Ben Wells 14, Jack Reynolds 7, Wyatt Jacobs 5, Jacob Slezak 4 and James Morris did not ride.