Coventry Vikings Are 2016 Mdl Champions

[Main Man]

Coventry Vikings are 2016 Midland Development League Champions.

 

The 2106 MDL Play-offs saw Coventry Vikings take the honours to win the title for the first time since the competition started in 2011 when the Long Eaton Invaders won the inaugural championship defeating the Vikings , who were then based at Sheffield.

With a solid eight point league from the first leg at Buxton the Vikings were never really troubled by the Junior Hitmen but for two blistering rides for 15 year old debutant Tom Brennan.

Heat 2 saw just one finisher in Conor Dwyer after Hitmen pair Ryan Burton and William O’Keefe fell in separate incidents whilst home rider Henry Atkins blew his motor whilst on a 5-0 and try as he may to nurse the bike home was disqualified by referee Margaret Vardy . This was despite the valiant efforts of partner Conor Dwyer to not pass him before the finish line. 15 year old Devonian Atkins started to push his bike hoping to secure the two points but his exclusion light came on but he got round the first two bends before this was realised and he stopped his mammoth push.

A heat three 5-1 for the Vikings from Jamie Halder and skipper Kyle Roberts put the home side within reach of the title although mathematically the Hitmen could have squared the overall scores with three 5-0’s!

The title was officially wrapped up with Dwyer and Atkins (on his second bike) racing to a maximum heat win in heat 4 .

Brennan took victory in heat 5 with the two Vikings behind him before the home side duo of Dwyer , who completed a 9 point maximum and Halder took heat six with a 5-1 to make the scores 24-9 on the night and 43-20 overall.

Vikings team manager Laurence was pleased for his young charges , “ The lads were magnificent in both legs of the final and their team spirit amazing. They all arrived early , set their bikes up, walked the track and bounced off each other all night. Jamie found a cracked back end prior to the meeting and thanks to Martin Knuckey for helping sort that out as it was a bit of a mad panic but in the end it all paid off.”

“I must thank all the lads who donned a Vikings race jacket to get us to the Final in particular Mitchell Beckett and Arran Butcher who rode the most meetings for the side . Thanks too to Carl Basford , who was injured in the first leg of the Final along with Saul Bulley, Lewis Austen, Lewis Whitmore,Sam Wright, Niall Strudwick and Jordan Jenkins who all played their part in the Vikings reaching the Final . I have tried to keep the team using young riders all year and hopefully that will pay dividends for them all in the future. At least the kids have brought some silverware to Brandon this year!!”

Buxton Team boss commented , “Congratulations to Coventry Vikings and Laurence Rogers on their MDL title win against us last night. Shame about last nights score for Buxton. Bad luck all meeting. Take nothing away from Cov, they deserved it over the 2 legged final. Thank you to Ryan Burton, Tom Brennan, Ben Basford and William O'Keefe for making the journey to Coventry last night to represent the Junior Hitmen.”

 

 

CITY GEARBOXES COVENTRY VIKINGS 24 (43)

 

Jamie Halder 2 3 2’ 7+1

Kyle Roberts 1’ 2’ 1’ 4+3

Conor Dwyer 3 3 3 9

Henry Atkins X 2’ 2 4+1

 

BUXTON JUNIOR HITMEN 9 (20)

 

Ben Basford F 1 0 1

Tom Brennan 3 R 3 6

Ryan Burton F 0 1 1

William O’Keefe F 1 R 1

 

Ht 1 : Brennan Halder Roberts Basford (f) 3-3 3-3 (22-14)

2 : Dwyer Atkins (exc) Burton (f) O’Keefe (f) 3-0 6-3 (25-14)

3 : Halder Roberts O’Keefe Burton (f/rm) 5-1 11-4 (30-15)

4 : Dwyer Atkins Basford Brennan (ret) 5-1 16-5 (35-16)

5 : Brennan Atkins Roberts O’Keefe (ret) 3-3 19-8 (38-19)

6 : Dwyer Halder Burton Basford 5-1 24-9 (43-20)