Eagles edge towards safety as they sting Bees

The three league points does not, however, make the Eagles completely safe from falling into the end-of-season relegation play-off.

Eastbourne were missing three riders through injury. Daniel Nermark had not recovered from his heavy crash last Monday at Coventry and Lukas Dryml and Simon Gustafsson were both injured in Poland on Sunday.

Joonas Kylmakorpi and Paul Hurry were drafted in and the rider replacement rule was used to cover for Gustafsson. Coventry’s Olly Allen was also injured in Poland as the Bees also used rider replacement.

Eagles made a dreadful start in conceding a 5-1 in heat one but after that battled for every point and steadily pulled out a lead. Former Eagle Edward Kennett cut the deficit by winning heat seven as a double points tactical ride.

That proved to be a temporary blip in the home side’s march to victory. Coventry took another 6-3 heat win when Chris Harris won heat 11 as a tactical ride.

The big difference between the teams was in the reserve berths. Ricky Kling, who had not scored a point in three matches, scored seven points and Hurry also scored seven.

Their opposite numbers Ricky Wells scored three points and Jordan Frampton none at all.

Lewis Bridger and Cameron Woodward were the engine room of Eagles’ victory push. In heat 15 Chris Harris made a do or die effort to salvage a league point for the Bees.

He was in last place at the end of lap one. He dived into the next turn at high speed to try and go through on the inside. Harris fell and was excluded having brought down Woodward who straightened up and felled Bridger.

Kennett won the re-run but  it was not enough for Bees.

Eagles: Lewis Bridger 14 (6), Cameron Woodward 12+3 (6), Paul Hurry 7+2 (4), Ricky Kling 7+2 (5), Joonas Kylmakorpi 7+1 (5), Davey Watt 5+1 (4).

Coventry: Edward Kennett 16 (5), Chris Harris 12 (5), Ben Barker 9+1 (5), Rory Schlein 4 (4), Ricky Wells 3 (5), Jordan Frampton 0 (5), Tommy Allen 0 (1).