Mountain’s maximum has the Bees buzzing
COVENTRY pulled off their biggest result of the season so far with a stunning 49-40 National Trophy victory at Cradley on Monday.
Connor Mountain scored a sensational 15-point maximum as the Europress Bees went to the top of the Northern group having taken all four points available at Monmore.
The Heathens had been widely predicted to carry all before them in the group, but the home team gave a lopsided display whilst the Bees carried strength throughout their line-up in support of the brilliant Mountain.
Former Heathens Jon Armstrong and Danny Phillips both scored double figures, with Phillips clinching victory on the night by winning Heat 14.
And Mountain’s wins in Heats 13 and 15, the former with a spectacular pass on Adam Roynon, guaranteed the maximum haul of Trophy points.
Bees opened an early sixpoint advantage thanks to a 4-2 in Heat 1 headed up by Mountain, and then a 5-1 as Armstrong and Phillips both made their way past Kyle Bickley in Heat 3.
Although their advantage was cut back immediately by a Heathens maximum in the next, Bees gained the benefit of a 5-0 in Heat 5 with both Bickley and Conor Dwyer coming to grief.
It meant Coventry led 18-11, a margin they maintained at the halfway stage with Armstrong getting the better of Heathens debutant Alfie Bowtell in Heat 7 whilst Phillips supplied third place.
The Heathens hit back strongly with youngster Jason Edwards taking extra rides and impressing – and they moved one point ahead with successive advantages.
Bees, though, displayed great character to regain the lead in Heat 10 and with Mountain continuing his winning ways they established a five-point lead with four heats to go.
Heat 13 produced some fabulous action with Mountain stalking Roynon for three laps before making his move around the outside of turn four and getting past the former Coventry rider for a terrific win.
Phillips wrapped up victory on the night as Bees notched a 4-2 from Heat 14, whilst the final race saw Mountain do the job from the gate, whilst Armstrong briefly held a 5-1 position until Roynon switched through on the inside for second place – but it was nowhere near enough to spoil the Bees’ night.
Manager Martyn Macdonald said: “That was one of the most joyous experiences I’ve had at Monmore Green!
“It was action-packed, entertaining and it had absolutely everything. The boys had to ride the track as sensibly as they could, and obviously I’ve been there with Stuart (Robson) quite a few times so I was able to pass on a few hints and tips, and everyone was helping each other.
“I keep saying all season, team-work goes a long way, and that was shown tonight. We went one point behind at one stage, but nobody panicked. We were just more positive that we had beaten them for half of the meeting, so we knew we could do it and we felt the second half of the programme would work in our favour.
“We are a solid team, obviously Connor is head and shoulders over a lot of other people in the league, and we work as an all-round unit which is what gets us results.
“There were some nasty crashes as well, and Luke Ruddick has bent a third bike in three days but he still got up and is a really good team man, and now we just want to keep it all going.
“We’ve gone top of the group table tonight and it’s going to make a few people sit up and think maybe this Coventry team isn’t as far down the pecking order as they thought.”
With the Bees now on 11 points from three group matches, their upcoming fixtures against Birmingham become vital. The Brummies are the next visitors to Leicester this Sunday (3pm).