Coventry Bees reach Elite League play-offs final

Chris Harris led the Bees to the final with 13 points at Peterborough

Coventry Bees booked their place in the final of the Elite League play-offs with a comprehensive 101-82 aggregate victory over Peterborough Panthers.

Bees won 49-44 in their second leg at the East of England Showground.

Chris Harris top-scored for Coventry, who were bottom of the league after losing their first seven meetings.

But having won their last nine, Bees will face Poole Pirates in the first leg at Brandon on Monday, 27 September, with the return leg the following week.

Track conditions were extremely grippy with several home riders clearly struggling around the large circuit.

Coventry's Krzysztof Kasprzak set a new track-record in the opening race, but also found the going tough, smashing into the barriers in Heat 11.

Bees manager Alun Rossiter said: "That was a real, ultra-professional performance from the boys. I was really happy.

"Coming here I was a bit concerned whether we could keep them back.

"But when we saw the track when we got here, I think the Peterborough management beat themselves in the end and I think they should take blame for their team losing."

The second leg of the play-off final at Wimborne Road on Monday, 4 October will be live on all BBC Coventry & Warwickshire frequencies.