Eastbourne Eagles kept up their bid for speedway's Elite League title with a thrilling 45-45 draw at Coventry last night.

Once again Eagles owed a debt to Mark Loram, who for the second match running won the vital last heat.

The Sussex squad, however, will be disappointed not to have won a see-saw affair, having hauled themselves into the lead after trailing by eight points early in the match.

Stefan Andersson figured in two 5-1 heat wins, first with Loram and then Adam Shields, to put the visitors ahead 25-23 after eight races.

Eagles were still two points in front with three heats left, but Shields fell in both heats 13 and 14, the second time when he and David Norris were on track for a 5-1.

That meant the teams went into the last race level and again Eastbourne looked like clinching victory with Loram leading Lee Richardson and skipper Joe Screen in third place.

Screen, though, was surprisingly passed by Billy Janniro on the third lap, giving Coventry a share of the spoils.

Richardson, who raced back from winning the Grand Prix qualifier in Poland the day before, was the star of the meeting with 16 points.

Coventry: Richardson 16, Tomas Topinka 10, Janniro 8, Sam Tesar 5, Ryan Fisher 4, Mark Lemon 2.

Eastbourne: Loram 11, Norris 11, Screen 11, Andersson 9, Shields 3, Savalas Clouting 0.

Eagles' rider Dean Barker pulled out of the meeting in Poland after four rides through injury.