Cycle Speedway returned to Coventry for the first time in nearly a year last Saturday night when the Devlins Newsagents drew with Birmingham in a classic match.

After trailing for most of the match, Coventry mounted a fantastic late recovery to lead by 2 points going into the final heat and a shock victory looked on the cards. However, Birmingham hit back to take a 6-4 heat advantage in the final heat to tie the match in a thrilling climax.

The real winner on the night was the sport. With a horror weekend of black news for the sport as a backdrop, with Eaton folding, Swindon withdrawing from league racing and Heckmondyke cancelling their match due to a rider shortage, the return to action of the Coventry club was welcome news indeed.

And, what a return it was! The Hearsall Common track looked serenely immaculate, returned to pristine condition by tremendous toil over the past six weeks. The transformation from just a month ago was astonishing. The race surface offered brilliant racing on the pacy confines, the centre green resembled Lords on the first day of a test match and the white lines dazzled as only Daz could!

An emotional Coventry club chairman Dave Foster announced as the two teams fought out a titanic battle “News of our demise has been a little premature”.

The match was given full support by two Commission members, Bob Prince and Tim Metcalfe, who both rode in the match. Both were keen to offer words of encouragement and advice to set the Hearsall Common club on the road to a lasting recovery.

Foster counselled against hopes of an immediate return to league racing. He said “Tonight’s been a great night but we have still so much to do after the damage inflicted in April 2007. We must walk before we run. However, there are several people supporting me and they have the determination and administrative ability not to let this club fail”.

Dominik Rycharski scored 19 to head the Coventry scores, whilst Marcus Wadhams netted 19 for Birmingham.

After the match, further good news emerged from Hearsall Common. Former top juniors Ashley Pointer, Matthew Lawrence and Lee Webb, now aged 22, 20 and 16 respectfully, who were all not involved last Saturday, all announced their support for the Coventry club, although this may not be in all cases on the track.

And ex Warwick Royals ace Rob Warnes is set to attend the regular Thursday night sessions at Hearsall Common to bolster the ranks even further.