COVENTRY overcame yet another injury blow to record a hard-fought home win over Lakeside and keep up the pace at the top-end of the Elite League table.
COVENTRY overcame yet another injury blow to record a hard-fought home win over Lakeside and keep up the pace at the top-end of the Elite League table.
Reserve Jordan Frampton was the latest to suffer, as he was taken to hospital for checks on his arm following a Heat 7 spill when he had been leading the race.
With Olly Allen on the sidelines for at least a month with a broken leg and with Rory Schlein sitting out hopefully just this fixture with shoulder damage, it left the Buildbase Bees down to five riders - and the signs were ominous when the Hammers moved into a four-point lead after Heat 8.
But a terrific battling effort turned the match in Coventry's favour, and it all kicked off when Edward Kennett roared inside Lee Richardson to win Heat 9 with youngster Ricky Wells re-passing Robert Mear for the all-important third place.
And then there was sensation in Heat 12 as Wells gained his first race win in Coventry colours and was joined by team-mate Filip Sitera for an unexpected 5-1 over Kauko Nieminen and Stuart Robson.
That gave Bees a lead to defend in the closing stages, and despite two magnificent rides by Hammers skipper Adam Shields to defeat Chris Harris, Coventry took the points they needed.
BUILDBASE BEES 47: Edward Kennett 14+2, Chris Harris 12+2, Lewis Bridger 9, Filip Sitera 6+1, Ricky Wells 4, Jordan Frampton 2+1, Rory Schlein r/r.
LAKESIDE 43: Adam Shields 13, Jonas Davidsson 8+2, Kauko Nieminen 8, Lee Richardson 6, Stuart Robson 4+2, Robert Mear 4+1, Joonas Kylmakorpi r/r.
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