COVENTRY’S National League Knockout Cup semi-final against Cradley was abandoned after ten races due to the curfew – with totally unsavoury scenes having caused a lengthy delay and ultimately the conclusion of the meeting.
Cradley were declared winners having been 32-27 up on the night and therefore were victorious on aggregate 95-55 as they progress to the Final.
The City Gearboxes Storm also have a major injury concern over British Under-19 Champion Oliver Greenwood, who was taken to hospital for x-rays on his leg after a racing incident with Heathens skipper Tom Perry in Heat 6 saw both riders hit the fence on the third bend.
But it was the events during and after Heat 10 which will dominate the post-match discussions, and meeting referee Jim Lawrence confirmed he will be submitting a full report to the SCB, using video evidence, regarding the actions of riders and members of pit crews which resulted in an ugly brawl occurring just off the circuit.
Storm captain James Sarjeant had clashed with Cradley’s Nathan Greaves even before the race in a dispute over starting positions from gates one and two, with the start marshal and referee forced to intervene.
When the race got going, after further elbows going into the first turn, Sarjeant’s chase of Greaves was ended by the Cradley rider’s blocking move on the home straight – at which point the race was stopped with Greaves disqualified for unfair riding, and Sarjeant awarded the win.
An on-track altercation between the two riders followed, and as they returned to the pits the situation quickly escalated with several others involved, and the outcome was that medical attention and hospital treatment was required for a member of the Coventry pit crew.
Greaves, having later entered the crowd, was escorted from the stadium whilst the referee, having called both sets of riders to the changing rooms, had little option but to abandon the meeting with the curfew having been reached and medical attention still being required. A full investigation is set to follow.
Coventry manager Laurence Rogers said: “Losing Ollie was a big blow to us to start with, but that incident at the end was disgraceful.
“We have one of our mechanics on our way to hospital, and it totally spoilt things. I feel very down and disillusioned, I love the sport but when incidents like that happen I wonder what I’m doing.â€
NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP SEMI FINAL, 2nd leg COVENTRY 27: James Sarjeant 7, Martin Kuckey 6+2, Dan Greenwood 6, Ryan Terry-Daley 4+1, Luke Priest 2+2, Oliver Greenwood 2, Stefan Nielsen r/r CRADLEY 32: Tom Perry 9, Joe Jacobs 8+1, Max Clegg 8, Nathan Greaves 6+1, Layne Cupitt 1, Danny Phillips 0, Paul Starke r/r Abandoned after 10 heats due to curfew – Result STANDS Cradley win 95-55 on aggregate
CITY GEARBOXES STORM 27 Oliver Greenwood 2 X = 2 Stefan Nielsen Rider Replacement Luke Priest 1* 0 0 1* = 2+2 Dan Greenwood 1 1 2 2 = 6 James Sarjeant 2 2 3 = 7 Ryan Terry-Daley 2* 2 0 = 4+1 Martin Knuckey 3 1* 1* 1 = 6+2
CRADLEY 32 Joe Jacobs 3 2* 3 = 8+1 Paul Starke Rider Replacement Max Clegg R 3 3 2 = 8 Nathan Greaves 2* 3 1 X = 6+1 Tom Perry 3 3 3 = 9 Layne Cupitt X 1 X = 1 Danny Phillips X 0 0 = 0
