RESULT: POOLE 60 BIRMINGHAM 32

25/06/14

BELEAGURED Birmingham Brummies were shown no mercy by a Poole side that saw their returning Polish pair of Przemyslaw Pawlicki and Maciej Janowski both unbeaten throughout the duration of this Elite league fixture which came on a harrowing day for the second city club

Just hours after owner Alan Philipps announced he was in discussions with a third party over the future of the Perry Barr club, his depleted side were like lambs to the slaughter against a rampant Poole outfit, who were seeking revenge for past Birmingham performances in the league at Wimborne Road.

Having conceded league points when the Brummies were in town in their last two regular league visits, the Pirates were in no mood to show any benevolence and claimed a 28 point winning margin - their biggest since August 2010.

But whilst the scoreline failed to mask the difference in class it did disguise the effort that the Birmingham riders invested and the quality of the racing.

Maciej Janowski finished the night with a perfect 5-ride score - untouchable in each of his outings but even that performance was overshadowed by the manner in which Vaclav Milik battled for each and every of his paid 12 points, to eventually claim the Rider of the Night nomination.

The edge of the seat showpiece he produced, along with Ben Barker and Danny King in heat 15 when the match result had been well and truly sewn up, epitomised the effort that the Czech rider put in. Positions were changing throughout as he tried earnestly to join Janowski at the front and the decent sized crowd, availing themselves of discounted admissions, must have left the stadium feeling they had certainly had value for money.

Even after another 8 maximum heat advantages, just as they had done 7 days ago, the Pirates could feel they might have won by a bigger margin still.

Skipper Darcy Ward missed out on joining the unbeaten Poles when he over rode the first turn in heat 5 and needed all his skill to stay aboard his machine but was forced to pull up on to the in-field. And earlier, reserve Kyle Newman suffered mechanical problems in heat 2 which cost him a finish as the Brummies temporarily levelled the meeting.

But the Pirates only then conceded points in one further heat, that due to Barker's second place in heat 10 after being blitzed by Ward, being worth double points under the tactical rule.

POOLE 60
D. Ward 2',R,3,2'=7+2
J. Grajczonek 3,3,0,3=9
P. Pawlicki 2',3,2',2'=9+3
V. Milik 3,2',3,3,0=11+1
M. Janowski 3,3,3,3,3=15
B. Hopwood 1,0,0=1
K. Newman R,2',3,1,2'=8+2
BIRMINGHAM 32
R. Replacement =0
J. Auty 1,2,0,0,2=5
D. King 1,2,1,1',1,1'=7+2
N. Covatti 1',1,0,0,1=3+1
B. Barker 0,0,1,4,1,2=8
P. Starke 2',0,1',0=3+2
S. Lambert 3,1',2,0=6+1

Ht 1 J. Grajczonek D. Ward J. Auty B. Barker 5-1 (5-1) (60.79)
Ht 2 S. Lambert P. Starke B. Hopwood K. Newman (Rtd) 1-5 (6-6) (62.93)
Ht 3 M. Janowski P. Pawlicki D. King B. Barker 5-1 (11-7) (60.53)
Ht 4 V. Milik J. Auty S. Lambert B. Hopwood 3-3 (14-10) (60.97)
Ht 5 M. Janowski D. King N. Covatti D. Ward (Rtd) 3-3 (17-13) (59.66)
Ht 6 P. Pawlicki V. Milik B. Barker J. Auty 5-1 (22-14) (61.13)
Ht 7 J. Grajczonek K. Newman N. Covatti P. Starke 5-1 (27-15) (61.41)
Ht 8 V. Milik P. Pawlicki D. King (TR) J. Auty 5-1 (32-16) (60.78)
Ht 9 K. Newman S. Lambert P. Starke B. Hopwood 3-3 (35-19) (62.54)
Ht 10 D. Ward B. Barker (TR) D. King J. Grajczonek 3-5 (38-24) (60.27)
Ht 11 M. Janowski P. Pawlicki D. King N. Covatti 5-1 (43-25) (60.69)
Ht 12 J. Grajczonek J. Auty K. Newman S. Lambert 4-2 (47-27) (61.94)
Ht 13 M. Janowski D. Ward B. Barker N. Covatti 5-1 (52-28) (60.78)
Ht 14 V. Milik K. Newman N. Covatti P. Starke 5-1 (57-29) (61.04)
Ht 15 M. Janowski B. Barker D. King V. Milik 3-3 (60-32) (61.47)

Referee: Mr Dale Entwhistle
Gates: Birmingham won toss and took gates 1&3 . Poole take 1&3 in heat 15