GARY Havelock could not hide his delight after his side extinguished the ghosts of the East Midland Bowl defeat last month with an excellent 51-42 win at the Jordan Roads Surfacing Stadium on Easter Saturday.
Joonas Kylmakorpi proved why Bees were hunting for his signature as he top scored with 12 points while fast-track reserve duo Jason Garrity and James Sarjeant proved how vital they are as reserves.
Cameron Heeps came in to guest for the injured Stuart Robson and also proved his worth as he beat three experienced Elite League riders off the in heat one.
“I’m over the moon; I definitely thought there wasn’t going to be a repeat performance of our first meeting of the season where we got well and truly spanked.
“We came back with a full team and although maybe not coming here thinking we’re going to win this but at least get something out of it and the team like I said on press day; the team spirit with being able to keep 50 percent of last year’s side it’s great because all the boys hit the ground running.
“You know I think if we can stay clear of injuries which is obviously the big thing I’d put us up against anybody.
“I’ve had quite a lot of discussions in the last week or so with my boss Mick Horton about running guests or rider placement, thankfully I got my way in the end and we brought Cam’ (Heeps) in and you know he did a fantastic job.
“Joonas has been round for a long time he knows what it’s all about and he knows what to do. In only his second meeting and he goes out and wins heat 15 speaks volumes of the lad you know and it seems he could have been the missing piece of the jigsaw.”
Next up for Bees is a home meeting with reining Elite League champions Poole this Friday at Brandon in what looks to be a great meeting.
Havelock added: “It’s going to be a tough meeting. It will give us a bit of a gage on where we are at and bring it on I say; if there’s any time to meet Poole it’s now.
“We proved last year when we went down there ten down with heats to go or something and we won by a point. We can take Poole on and when we come together and all the boys turn up we’ll give them a match.”
