COVENTRY pulled off a huge result in the race for the Elite League play-offs with a dramatic 46-44 win at Wolverhampton.
The Buildbase Bees, inspired by a stunning 17-point haul by flying reserve Jason Garrity, were four points down with three races to go but produced a fighting finale to edge a local derby which has to go down as one of the best matches of the top-flight season.
The contest was nip-and-tuck throughout with racing out of the very top drawer, and whilst Garrity’s display included a remarkable hat-trick of wins in Heats 7, 8 and 9 it was skipper Chris Harris and Hans Andersen who delivered when called upon in the late battles of the big guns.
The scores were level after three heats although Bees were already making notably fast starts, and they could have gone in front in Heat 4 only for Kyle Howarth to bring down Ricky Wells as they battled for second place behind Garrity.
With Howarth disqualified, Wells overtook Garrity in the re-run for what would incredibly be the only point dropped by the Coventry rider, and the home side went six points ahead with a 5-1 in the next as World Champion Tai Woffinden worked his way past both Michael Jepsen Jensen and Kenneth Hansen after being squeezed out at the start.
Bees hit back with their own 5-1 from Andersen and Harris in Heat 6, Harris remaining unbeaten after a frantic battle with Jacob Thorssell in his first ride.
Garrity then took charge but his Heat 7 win saw the race completed with Kenneth Hansen on the deck on turn two having held a 5-1 for much of the contest, only to come down when Ty Proctor went through on the inside.
The visitors did gain an advantage in the next thanks to Garrity and Jepsen Jensen, split by Thorssell, which levelled the scores, and Garrity’s win in the second reserves’ race was backed up by another useful third from James Sarjeant as Bees edged ahead for the first time.
After a shared Heat 10, Wolves levelled in the next when Thorssell pinched third place from Andersen, who had been attempting to team-ride with Hansen, and the match appeared to have swung decisively Wolves’ way in Heat 12 when Howarth appeared to lose power mid-race enabling Joe Jacobs into second place for a 5-1 as the Coventry rider went to the back.
But the response from the Bees’ big guns was instant, as Andersen forced Woffinden out on the first turn in Heat 13 and then squeezed around Schlein coming off the fourth bend, with Harris following him through at the start of lap two for a massive 5-1.
With the scores level, Garrity again shot out of the start to lead Heat 14 and was joined by Hansen – and although Wells came through to split them, the 4-2 still put Bees into the last race two points up.
With Andersen and Harris both mindful that a 3-3 would be enough, a flying start by Woffinden was covered by Andersen clamping Schlein on the first bend – but then things got tight as Schlein still threatened to emerge in front, with the Bees riders thrillingly going either side of him into turn three and then holding station for the result they required from a memorable meeting.
Harris said: “That was a very good win for us. Everyone dug deep, everyone was trying, I know a few of our team were struggling but everyone was giving their all and that’s all you can ask for.
“Jason was on fire, and that shows just how good he is around here. He was our match-winner with 17 out of 18, and we were giving him stick for dropping that point!
“It was always going to be a tough meeting but we know what we’re capable of, and it was important after Wednesday’s hammering at King’s Lynn and then the rain-off on Friday.
“We needed to come here and perform, and we did. Heat 15 nearly came to blows when I almost ran into the back of Hans, but I managed to save it and get up the inside of Rory to get the 3-3 that we needed.â€
WOLVERHAMPTON 44: Tai Woffinden 11+1, Rory Schlein 8+1, Ty Proctor 6, Ricky Wells 6, Joe Jacobs 5+1, Jacob Thorssell 5, Tom Perry 3+1. BUILDBASE BEES 46: Jason Garrity 17, Chris Harris 10+3, Hans Andersen 10, Michael Jepsen Jensen 3+1, Kenneth Hansen 3, James Sarjeant 3, Kyle Howarth 0.
WOLVERHAMPTON 44 Tai Woffinden 3 2* 3 0 3 = 11+1 Ty Proctor 1 2 R 3 = 6 Jacob Thorssell 2 0 2 1 = 5 Ricky Wells 3 1 0 2 = 6 Rory Schlein 1* 3 3 1 0 = 8+1 Joe Jacobs 2 1 0 2* = 5+1 Tom Perry 0 1* 2 0 = 3+1
BUILDBASE BEES 46 Hans Andersen 2 3 0 3 2 = 10 Kyle Howarth 0 X 0 = 0 Michael Jepsen Jensen 0 1 1 1* = 3+1 Kenneth Hansen 0 X 2 1 = 3 Chris Harris 3 2* 2 2* 1* = 10+3 Jason Garrity 3 2 3 3 3 3 = 17 James Sarjeant 1 1 1 = 3
