Bees’ Trophy hopes stung by Heathens

COVENTRY’S National Trophy hopes were hit by a 40-49 defeat to rivals Cradley at Leicester.

Former Bees rider Adam Roynon led the visitors’ effort as the Heathens avenged their defeat from when the sides met earlier in the season at Monmore Green.

While Roynon’s full house enabled the visitors to neutralise the Bees’ heatleader threat of Connor Mountain and Jon Armstrong, it was with a free-scoring reserve that the match was won as the Heathens’ Drew Kemp piled up 16 points.

Ironically Kemp would not even have been at the meeting had Mildenhall’s trip to Buxton scheduled for the same day not been called off last week – and his inclusion made all the difference, as he won five races. The Heathens took control of the meeting early on, but Bees were back in the match in the sixth race as they were handed a 5-0. Chris Widman had already retired at the back when Alfie Bowtell was deemed to have collided with Danny Phillips on the second lap and was disqualified.

Bowtell, however, made amends by comfortably winning Heat 8 before tucking in behind Kemp for a 5-1 in the ninth. Bees hit back in Heat 10 reducing the gap to five, but that was as good as it got for the hosts as Roynon and Kemp dominated the closing stages ensuring maximum Trophy points and leaving Bees adrift in the battle for qualification.

Manager Martyn Macdonald said: “I’m disappointed because I’d like to win everything, but I’m not too disappointed, as they’re such a good team.