Eagles secure second place (From The Argus)

Eagles secure second place

10:13pm Monday 12th September 2011 in Eagles news By Brian Owen

Eastbourne Eagles have secured their best league placing for nine years – and knocked the champions out of the play-offs.

Eagles beat Coventry 53-40 at Arlington tonight and have come second in the Elite League.

It is their best placing since they topped the pile in 2002 before suffering play-off heartbreak against Wolverhampton.

Eagles had 5-1s in heats one and three and had just one nervous moment, when Russian star Emil Sayfutdinov won for double points in heat 11.

Bjarne Pedersen beat Sayfutdinov in heat 13 and completed a near-perfect evening by dominating the nominated race.

All six home riders were paid for at least one win as they enjoyed a 13th home victory in 14 league meetings this term.

Tonight's result means Lakeside join Eagles, King's Lynn and table-topping Poole in the play-offs.

Eagles: Pedersen 13+1 (5), Woodward 11 (6), Bridger 8+2 (4), Gustafsson 8+1 (5), Kylmakorpi 8+1 (5), Lahti 5+1 (5), Dryml r/r.

Coventry: Sayfutdinov 15^ (6), Morris 9+1 (6), Piotr Pawlicki 6+1 (5), Przemyslaw Pawlicki 5 (5), Larsen 3+1 (5), Fisher 2 (3), Kennett r/r.