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).