Coventry Bees hoping for derby double...

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Ninth-placed Coventry will be looking to leapfrog neighbours Wolves when the two local Midlands rivals meet at Brandon on Friday night (20:00 BST).



Wolves are out to avoid an unwanted derby double, having lost 47-42 at home to the Bees at Monmore last week.

Coventry's star riders Scott Nicholls and Chris Harris also had the edge over their Wolves counterparts in Monday night's British title at Monmore.

But the Bees make lower-order changes for Friday's Elite League clash.

Three of their four doubling-up riders have Premier League fixtures making them unavailable. And the one who would have been available, Josef Franc, is out with a knee injury.

The Bees have two guests at reserve, Sheffield's Richard Hall and Berwick's promising Frenchman David Bellego.

And they are back in the market for a new reserve after availability issues brought an early end to recent signing Mathias Thornblom's stay with the club.

Wolves, just a point ahead of Coventry in eighth place, have youngsters Nicolai Klindt and Pontus Aspgren back after injury.

It will be a chance for Tai Woffinden to avenge his defeat in the British title final on Monday night.

He was leading when Edward Kennett crashed, causing the Coventry man's disqualification and a rerun.

But, when they rode again, Woffinden was left in third as Nicholls fought off Harris to claim a record-breaking seventh national crown.

Frdiay's fixture is the first of 10 Elite League matches in August for Coventry, who also stage the World Under-21 final at Brandon on 17 August.

Coventry: Chris Harris, Aaron Summers, Edward Kennett, Kenni Larsen, Scott Nicholls, Richard Hall, David Bellego.

Wolves: Freddie Lindgren, Ty Proctor, Nicolai Klindt, Ricky Wells, Tai Woffinden, Pontus Aspgren, Jacob Thorssell.

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Coventry race in for derby double

Ninth-placed Coventry leapfrogged neighbours Wolves in the Elite League table as they raced in for a derby double at Brandon on Friday night.

Just eight days after winning 47-42 at Monmore, the Bees this time beat their main Midlands rivals 52-40.

Coventry's Chris Harris and Wolves' Tai Woffinden finished joint top scorers on the night with 14 points apiece.

But the Bees' enforced lower-order changes did not in the end prove too damaging.

The Bees had two guests at reserve, Sheffield's Richard Hall and Berwick's promising Frenchman David Bellego, as three of their four doubling-up riders were unavailable due to Premier League fixtures and Josef Franc was out with a knee injury.

But Bellego claimed the shock scalp of Wolves star Freddie Lindgren in Heat 1.

And skipper Harris was in blistering form, dropping just one point from five rides.

Kenni Larsen matched that with a series of fast starts, while Edward Kennett enjoyed his best Elite League display for some time.

"It was a good night," said Harris. "Everyone rode well. We got the win which we needed and to beat our local rivals always makes it even better.

"I was trying hard in the last one but I just ran out of room a little bit. But I can't complain, 14 points is good and we've all gone home safe so we're happy."

Wolves will now be looking to bounce straight back in Monday's must-win home clash with Eastbourne at Monmore.

Meanwhile, Coventry have signed Polish rider Michal Szczepaniak, who is set to make his debut for the Bees against Swindon on Wednesday night.

Coventry: Chris Harris 14, Kenni Larsen 13+1, Edward Kennett 9+2, Scott Nicholls 7, David Bellego 5+3, Richard Hall 4+1, Aaron Summers R/R.

Wolves: Tai Woffinden 14, Ricky Wells 7+1, Ty Proctor 6, Nicolai Klindt 4, Freddie Lindgren 3+2, Pontus Aspgren 3+2, Jacob Thorssell 3.