COVENTRY are through to the Elite League Grand Final after a simply sensational performance at Swindon on Monday.
The Buildbase Bees travelled to Blunsdon with an eight-point first leg lead but did far more than defend that advantage, instead going on the attack to come away with a 50-45 win on the night for a 99-86 overall victory.
It was a remarkable scoreline given the Robins’ recent home form, which had seen them win their last nine matches on their own circuit, scoring at least 52 points in the last seven of those.
A complete team performance from the Bees was headed by a stunning paid-14 showing from Kyle Howarth, against his former club, and another hugely impressive guest performance from youngster Max Fricke, who also beat all of the Swindon big guns – whilst in-form reserve James Sarjeant won both reserves’ races.
Bees adapted far better to track conditions than their hosts, and there was never any suggestion of a repeat of their 31-60 mauling at the same venue one month earlier.
The warm, pleasant September conditions had been replaced by heavy rain throughout the morning, and although the circuit had been covered it was clear that the elements had still had some effect. As it turned out, Coventry, sharper from the starts throughout, were the better side by a distance.
They took the lead in Heat 2 when Sarjeant zoomed around Steve Worrall on the back straight, and Fricke then combined with skipper Chris Harris for a psychologically massive 5-1 over home captain Troy Batchelor in Heat 3.
Howarth and Sarjeant added another 4-2 in Heat 4 putting the Robins into an unexpected game of catch-up on a night where they desperately needed to make a fast start.
Fricke split Batchelor and Peter Kildemand in Heat 5, but the Bees’ top two did card a 5-1 in Heat 6 as Andersen and Harris raced clear, and that incredibly led to Swindon using a tactical ride – a scenario few had envisaged prior to the meeting.
Even that could have gone horribly wrong only for the Bees to make what turned out to be rare mistakes, Jason Garrity nearly losing control at the start of the second lap and Kenneth Hansen remarkably remaining aboard his bike as he rode the air-fence enabling Nick Morris to go through for a six-pointer.
But both Coventry riders did stay on to complete the race, conceding a 3-6 rather than a 1-8 in a meeting where several home riders failed to finish heats when they found themselves at the back.
In any case, it didn’t spark a Swindon revival as Bees added a Fricke/Howarth 5-1 in Heat 8, another 4-2 from their reserves in Heat 9 and then, to add insult to injury, Fricke defeated Kildemand in Heat 10 when the home No.1 was going for double.
Swindon were a beaten team, a win for Dakota North in Heat 11 offering them scant consolation, and the Bees were mathematically through when Howarth took the flag in the next race, Sarjeant unlucky to lose out to Morris after initially challenging Worrall.
A 5-1 from Kildemand and Batchelor in Heat 14 brought the scores closer on the night, as did a 4-2 in Heat 14 when Garrity came to grief to allow Worrall through, but Howarth signed off the victory in fabulous style with a classy Heat 15 win over Kildemand and Batchelor.
Manager Gary Havelock said: “I certainly expected us to run them close on the night, and I was absolutely certain that there was no way we’d perform as badly as we did here last time.
“All season I’ve been delighted with our team, and I don’t think there’s one meeting where I could have criticised one of them for effort.
“Kyle and Max were sensational, and also James Sarjeant was unbelievable with the way he came past Steve Worrall in Heat 2, but all of them were great.
“As I’ve said before, backs to the wall is when you find out about your team, and we’ve certainly found out a lot about these riders during the season.â€
What Bees are yet to discover is the identity of their Final opponents, after the second leg between Poole and King’s Lynn was postponed on Monday due to the weather.
The two clubs will try again at Wimborne Road this Thursday, with the winners set to visit Brandon for the first leg of the Final next Monday, October 13.
SWINDON 45: Peter Kildemand 12+1, Troy Batchelor 9+1, Nick Morris 7+1, Steve Worrall 7, Simon Gustafsson 6, Dakota North 4, Nathan Greaves 0. COVENTRY 50: Kyle Howarth 13+1, Max Fricke 10+1, Chris Harris 7+1, James Sarjeant 7, Hans Andersen 6+1, Jason Garrity 4, Kenneth Hansen 3+1. Coventry win 99-86 on aggregate
SWINDON 45 Peter Kildemand 3 1 4^ 3 1* = 12+1 Nick Morris 0 6^ 0 1* = 7+1 Dakota North R 1 R 3 = 4 Simon Gustafsson 2 R 1 3 = 6 Troy Batchelor 1 3 1 2* 2 = 9+1 Nathan Greaves F R R = 0 Steve Worrall 2 0 2 2 1 = 7