Location: Coventry CS, Hearsall Common, Earlsdon, Coventry
Event: 17 March 2013
Coventry Devlins Newsagents Cycle Speedway team entertain East London this Sunday in a challenge match as they continue their preparations for the new season with tapes up at 2pm.
East London will parade an experienced side, headed by multi British champion Denis Hubble. It will be the first clash between the two teams for over a decade. The two sides will meet again the following Sunday, when Coventry travel to East London`s Docklands home venue for the return fixture.
Coventry team boss Lee Marsh looks set to recall Mark Winwood following his completion of a six month suspension but will await last minute checks on Polish ace Konrad Pietak, who is due to arrive, after a gruelling 1100 mile road journey from Poland, in Coventry on Saturday evening.
Marsh names promising youngsters Liam McGuire and Shaun Reynolds in his side and he again picks richly promising on-loan Bretford Bulldogs whizz kid Mason Phillips, after his dashing debut last weekend against Edinburgh.
Coventry suffered a 95-84 defeat in their first fixture of what promises to be an exciting season, going down to Edinburgh Falcons at a rain soaked Hearsall Common last Saturday afternoon.
The home side entered the match with only a pre season practice session to look back on, however this didn't faze the city side who took an early lead courtesy of wins from Myke Grimes, Norman Venson, Dave Frith and debutant Mason Phillips.
Grimes was beaten for the first time in heat 7 when Mikey Hewitson took the flag ahead of the 2012 British Finalist. A first win for Falcon's number one Lee Lawrence in heat eight and further wins for Jake Slight in heats eight and nine saw the sides draw level at 45-45 come the half time break.
Heat 10 saw Coventry fight back with a 6-4 of their own following a first senior win for youngster Daniel Drewitt. However, this was cancelled out as James Kirrane was excluded in heat 11 following what was deemed an illegal blocking move by the referee and consequently Edinburgh retook the lead as the scores stood at 53-56.
Despite optimism amongst the home side, Edinburgh pulled clear in the closing stages of the meeting as they recorded three heat advantages within the last six heats to pull off an away win by a margin of 11 points.
Coventry will be cheered by the performances of their younger riders, particularly Drewett and Phillips, who both recorded their first ever heat wins in first team racing. Their older riders, after a bright start, faded in the second half as the heavy conditions took their toll.
Elsewhere, the second team lost out 106-73 to the Falcons reserve squad despite wins for skipper Shaun Reynolds, Calum McCarroll and Josh Marsh.
For more information on Coventry Cycle Speedway, please go to: www.coventrycsc.com
Team news
Coventry team (probable): 1 Myke Grimes, 2 Mason Phillips, 3 Mark Winwood, 4 Liam McGuire, 5 To be confirmed, 6 Dave Frith (c), 7 Shaun Reynolds, 8 Joe McLaughlin.
The East London match is followed by a full scale Coventry V Leicester fixture at junior level and Coventry junior manager Andy Drewett names the following squad:
Josh Marsh, Calum McCarroll, Adam Dickinson, Spencer Sawbridge, Jake Slatter, Billy Bloore, Ollie Morris, James Kirrane, Sam Slatter, Sammi Marsh and Daniel Drewett
