Eastbourne Eagles’ hopes of reaching the Elite League play-offs are officially over.
They lost 60-32 and 60-33 in their double-header at Coventry Bees tonight.
That leaves them nine points off the top four with just the double-header at Belle Vue on Monday to come.
Bad night for me and rest of the @EliteEagles . Coventry was way better and deserves the 6 points.
— JOONAS KYLMÄKORPI #1 (@kylmakorpi) September 12, 2014
A makeshift Eagles side offered early hope of taking some reward but then fell away dramatically.
They trailed just 26-24 when guest Stuart Robson won heat eight in the first meeting of the night but Bees then plundered six 5-1s and a 4-2 in the remaining races.
Chris Harris and Hans Andersen completed five-ride paid maximums.
Coventry: Harris 14+1 (5), Andersen 13+2 (5), Garrity 10+1 (5), Howarth 9+2 (4), Hansen 7+1 (4), Sarjeant 4+1 (4), Auty 3+1 (3).
Eagles: Schlein 11^ (5), Kylmakorpi 5 (4), Lahti 5 (5), Robson 4 (4), Pedersen 3+1 (4), Ellis 4 (5), Clegg 0 (3).
An 8-1 involving guest Rory Schlein and Bjarne Pedersen in the second meeting never really threatened to stem the tide as Bees secured the win which rubber-stamped play-off places for both themselves and Swindon.
Coventry: Harris 13+1 (5), Andersen 12+2 (5), Garrity 11+1 (4), Hansen 10 (4), Sarjeant 5+3 (4), Auty 5+2 (4), Howarth 4 (4).
Eagles: Schlein 13^ (5), Pedersen 6^ (5), Kylmakorpi 5 (4), Clegg 3+1 (5), Lahti 3 (4), Robson 2+1 (4), Ellis 1 (3).
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