COVENTRY secured two crucial Elite League points at Brandon with a solid effort from a depleted line-up against Peterborough.
The Buildbase Bees overcame several problems during an eventful encounter which threw up a number of surprise results.
In the end, Scott Nicholls and Chris Harris produced the goods with a vintage Heat 15 5-1 to make sure of victory, with the Panthers collecting a point for their efforts – largely thanks to a superb race win by ex-Bees man Olly Allen in Heat 13.
But Bees were happy with their two points given the injury absence of Kenni Larsen – and the fact that before nine races had been completed, each of their top three had failed to finish a race.
Edward Kennett retired from Heat 1, Harris was disqualified for bringing Kenneth Bjerre down in Heat 5, and then Nicholls unwittingly triggered a three-man pile-up involving himself, Harris and Kyle Newman in Heat 9 – a race which Bees seemingly needed to take big points from.
With the scores level at that stage, Bees edged four points ahead with two 4-2s, thanks to some crucial third places from Leigh Lanham and Jason Bunyan – the latter having earlier partnered Nicholls to a key 5-1 over Michael Jepsen Jensen and Linus Sundstrom in Heat 7 on an impressive seasonal debut.
Jensen held Harris at bay to win Heat 12 and with Allen defeating Kennett and Nicholls in Heat 13, the Panthers were only two points adrift and Heat 14 appeared to favour them on paper.
But all that changed when Jesper B Monberg fell on turn three when contesting the bend with Bunyan – and the Dane, who had earlier been disqualified for bringing Allen down in Heat 4, saw his disqualification light shine again.
Bees therefore took a 43-41 lead into the decider and although the Panthers had choice of gates, Kenneth Bjerre missed out from the inside and Nicholls ensured Allen’s run was blocked to enable Harris to complete a match-winning 5-1.
Before the meeting, all present had observed a moving tribute to former Coventry and Peterborough rider Lee Richardson, and a collection for his family raised in excess of £2,500.
Coventry owner Mick Horton said: “This was a meeting that looked very tough beforehand, and we had a chat to all the boys beforehand to make sure we were all ready for it.
“I’ve got to say I’m proud of each and every one of them tonight. The effort was first-class throughout and they were an absolute credit to the club. We’re pleased with the two points in the circumstances.â€
BUILDBASE BEES 48: Scott Nicholls 13+1, Chris Harris 10+1, Edward Kennett 8, Jason Bunyan 7+2, Henning Bager 5+1, Leigh Lanham 5, Kenni Larsen r/r.
PETERBOROUGH 42: Jesper B Monberg 9+2, Kenneth Bjerre 9, Olly Allen 9, Linus Sundstrom 7, Michael Jepsen Jensen 7, Kyle Newman 1+1, Lasse Bjerre r/r.
BUILDBASE BEES 48 Edward Kennett R 3 3 3 2 = 8 Leigh Lanham 2 1 1 0 1 = 5 Chris Harris 3 X 3 2 2* = 10+1 Kenni Larsen Rider Replacement Scott Nicholls 3 3 X 3 1* 3 = 13+1 Jason Bunyan 2 1 2* 1 1* = 7+2 Henning Bager 1* 1 1 0 2 = 5+1
