Birmingham Brummies v King’s Lynn Stars

Report

BIRMINGHAM inflicted major play-off damage on King’s Lynn with a 49-41 win over the five-man Stars at Perry Barr.

The visitors had been hoping to close in on the top four of the ROWE Motor Oil Premiership, but they had to settle for just the aggregate point from the Second City clash.

The Brummies put on a much-improved performance compared to recent heavy defeats, with skipper Tobiasz Musielak (13+1) and Keynan Rew (12+2) securing the win with a 5-1 in Heat 15.

But the Stars, who had finally named a full-strength team, were hampered by the mid-meeting withdrawals of Ben Cook and Jan Kvech, both of whom aggravated previous injuries.

Captain Nicolai Klindt top-scored for the visitors with 10+1 and youngster Luke Harrison impressed with 8+1, taking his first race win at Premiership level.

Musielak said: “Of course King’s Lynn’s situation helped us, and hopefully Ben and Jan will come back soon, but we needed this win and we did a good job in the last few races and it was a much needed victory.”

“It was so close for all the meeting but we started well, we finished well and job done.

“Oxford away was difficult, but this was a new day and we were keeping focussed.”

King’s Lynn manager Rob Lyon said: “It’s always going to be tough when you’ve got five riders away from home, and once again the injury bug has beaten us unfortunately.

“We were strong enough to win tonight, but fair play to Birmingham, they’ve taken advantage. The track was very difficult, especially early on, and it played its part in our boys having to pull out.

“It’s a big blow for us because obviously we were looking to get three points here and managed to get one, but you can’t avoid injuries and they’ve beaten us again.”

BIRMINGHAM 49: Tobiasz Musielak 13+1, Keynan Rew 12+2, Jonas Jeppesen 8, Matej Zagar 6, Ben Barker 5+2, Paco Castagna 4+1, Sam Hagon 1+1.
KING’S LYNN 41: Nicolai Klindt 10+1, Luke Harrison 8+1, Richard |Lawson 7+1, Chris Harris 7+1, Niels-Kristian Iversen 7, Jan Kvech 2, Ben Cook 0.
King’s Lynn win the aggregate point

OFFICIAL REFEREE SCORECARD
Available here

Photo credit: PHIL McGLYNN