COVENTRY and Ipswich shared the points in a thrilling Bank Holiday meeting which had just about everything.

A point apiece was a fair result after an afternoon of twists and turns, culminating in the Buildbase Bees taking a 4-2 in an epic Heat 15.

Pre-match talk centred around the Bees' audacious bid to get No.8 Ben Barker to the meeting to replace the injured Robbie Kessler, Barker having been racing for his Premier League club Stoke at Rye House earlier in the day.

Barker was transported from Hoddesdon to Brandon by Bees promoter Allen Trump, arriving just in time for Heat 2 - and the operation was thoroughly justified by the point he gained against Ipswich No.1 Piotr Swiderski in Heat 11.

Bees found themselves facing an uphill battle after conceding 5-1s in both Heats 2 and 3, but clawed their way back into contention with recent signing Filip Sitera twice involved in 5-1s over ex-Coventry man Rory Schlein in Heats 4 and 6.

It was nip and tuck thereafter with Chris Harris re-passing Schlein in Heat 9 to level the scores, Ipswich having lost a 5-1 in Heat 7 when Robert Miskowiak seized an engine.

Bees were hit by gremlins themselves in Heat 13 when Olly Allen lost a chain on the start-line, but Hans Andersen kept the scores level with his fourth straight win.

Ipswich edged back in front with a 4-2 in Heat 14 as Miskowiak won ahead of a frantic battle between Billy Janniro and Chris Schramm.

A 5-1 to the Bees in Heat 15 would have won it, but Andersen was squeezed out into turn one and Harris rode a superb bend to come out in front. Andersen, meanwhile, overhauled Swiderski and was within inches of making it past Jarek Hampel too - but defeat would have been harsh on the Witches, who fully played their part in a terrific advert for speedway.

Bees manager Peter Oakes said: "I suppose it was a fair result, the meeting left us all breathless and I'd imagine everyone who watched it felt the same.

"There's some disappointment that we dropped a point, but it was probably a point gained given our problems team-wise. We certainly missed Simon Stead, and all credit to Ben to finish one meeting at 3.15pm and start another one 96 miles away so soon after!

"I was also pleased for Filip Sitera, because a few people might have wondered what we'd done when he came over. But it takes time for a new rider, he's only 20 and he showed why we've signed him. He's one for the future and everything he learns this season will be useful for him and us."

BUILDBASE BEES 45: Hans Andersen 13, Chris Harris 11, Olly Allen 10, Filip Sitera 5+2, Billy Janniro 4, Ben Barker 2+2, Josh Auty 0, Simon Stead r/r.

IPSWICH 45: Jarek Hampel 13, Tobias Kroner 6+2, Piotr Swiderski 6+1, Chris Schramm 6, Robert Miskowiak 5+1, Rory Schlein 5, Steve Johnston 4+1.