Last-gasp Bees snatch draw

Witches foiled by Grand Prix stars

Last updated: 29th August 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Last-gasp Bees snatch draw

Harris (L) & Andersen - sealed the draw (Credit: Les Aubrey)

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Coventry and Ipswich fought out a thrilling 45-45 draw in front of the Sky Sports cameras at Brandon on Monday.

A tightly-fought contest went down to the final heat with the Witches holding a two-point advantage.

But Chris Harris (11) just got the drop on Jarek Hampel (13) and Piotr Swiderski, with Hans Andersen (13) missing the start for the first time on the night.

However, in a dramatic climax to the meeting Anderson managed to pass Swiderski on lap three and with Harris clinging on to first place, the Bees claimed the point with Hampel only just keeping out Andersen in the end.

The meeting started brightly for the Witches as the Bees struggled without the services of the injured Simon Stead, while number eight Ben Barker just made it in time after hot-footing it from a Premier League meeting at Rye House.

But Coventry fought back well with two maximums in three heats as Czech youngster Felipe Sitero chased home Olly Allen and then Andersen - latterly holding off former Bees Rory Schlein and Steve Johnston in thrilling style.

The hosts were finally back on level terms in heat nine after Harris passed Schlein to take the honours with Billy Janniro in third - Johnston having packed up at the start.

The teams were locked together in the next three heats but Witches gained a crucial advantage in the penultimate race, with Robert Miskowiak holding off the persistent Janniro while Chris Schramm kept Barker at bay at the rear.

It meant the Bees pairing of Andersen and Harris needed a 5-1 in the finale, with the Dane favourite after winning his earlier races in impressive fashion.

But the Grand Prix star missed the start and although his team-mate was out front, there seemed no way past the Polish duo.

But Andersen showed his class to bag the crucial point a secure the draw, although it does little for Coventry's play-off hopes while Ipswich remain fourth in the Elite League with matches in hand on their rivals.

Poole clear

Poole Pirates are five points clear at the top of the table after easing to a 54-36 victory over Peterborough at Wimborne Road.

The Pirates had won at Eastbourne over the weekend and they followed that up with the comfortable win against The Panthers.

Peterborough now find themselves bottom-of-the-table after Wolverhampton clinched a dramatic win over Belle Vue Aces.

The Aces were a point ahead at Monmore Green going into the last heat but Scandinavian stars Freddie Lindgren and Niels-Kristian Iversen clinched an oustanding 5-1 over Jason Crump to give them victory.

Wolves move above Peterborough on points difference.

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