Mercia Vikings 20 Scunthorpe 13 (amended From 20-16) Mdl Weds Aug 8

[Main Man]

Midland Development League :

 

Coventry-Mercia Vikings 20 Scunthorpe Stags 13 (amended from 20-16)

 

NCA Vikings 20

 

1. Conor Dwyer 3 2 2 2’ 9+1

2. Tyler Govier R N N 0

3. Andrew Braithwaite f/x 2’ X 2+1

4. Josh Bates 3 N 3 3 9 max

 

Stags 13 (was 16)

 

1. Michael Faulkner 2 0 0 2

2. David Holt 1’ 1 1 3+1

3. Oliver Greenwood 2 3 3 8

4. Danny Phillips 1’ 1 1 3 +1 (points do not count)

 

 

The Coventry-Mercia Vikings fired themselves into joint top spot in the Midland Development League with a win over Scunthorpe that gave them their first double of the season and maintained their home unbeaten record.

It was achieved despite mechanical gremlins for each and every Viking plus a bizarre exclusion in heat 5 . 16 year old Josh Bates caught the eye on his home debut with three unbeaten rides although he missed his second ride when he hit electrical problems on his bike. He posted a time just two seconds outside the Elite League winning times in heat 4 to outline his vast potential.

Another 16 year old Devonian Tyler Govier , skippering the side , had a night to forget though with gremlins seeing him pull in heat one and despite mad work on his machinery in the pits he never made it back out on track.

Local lad Conor Dwyer rode solidly although he too had bike troubles but still managed to record paid 10 from his four outings. Fellow local rider though Andrew Braithwaite had two exclusion and a paid win . The first exclusion in heat 2 was straightforward as he crashed out whilst on a 5-1 with Josh Bates but his second was probably the most bizarre one ever seen. He got out of shape on bend 4 and went very wide with the Scunthorpe riders slightly affected but the red stop lights came on and the referee Mick Posselwhite excluding the home rider . The explanation given to joint team boss Laurence Rogers was that he thought the rider was unsafe and shouldn’t be on the track which amazed everyone.

As Rogers commented , “ I have never in all my years team managing ever seen such a decision –it was totally bizarre. Perhaps it’s a new rule no one knows about!!”

With two league points in the bag secured by a Bates and Dwyer 5-1 in the last heat the Vikings joined Long Eaton and Belle Vue on 9 points making their away encounter at Leicester on Saturday a top of the table clash with top spot vying for whichever side takes victory.

 

Ht 1 : Dwyer Faulkner Holt Givier (ret) 3-3- 3-3 66.4

2 : Bates Greenwood Phillips Braithwite f/x 3-3 6-6 awarded

3 : Greenwood Dwyer Holt Bates (ns) 2-4 8-10 66.0

4 : Bates Braithwaite Phillips Faulkner 5-1 13-11 63.5

5 : Greenwood Dwyer Holt Braithwaite exc 2-4 15-15 65.5

6 : Bates Dwyer Phillips Faulkner 5-1 20-16 64.5