GARY Havelock believes away form will be key for his Bees side as they continue to make a push for the Elite League play-offs.
Bees made it four league wins on the trot thanks to a hard-working 47-43 victory over Poole at Brandon on Friday.
Ten heat wins told one side of the story for the Pirates, but ten last places told the other as Bees defended efficiently when required at Brandon.
Skipper Chris Harris led the way for the hosts with paid-12, although he didn’t quite have an answer to Darcy Ward in the closing stages as the Australian raced to an imperious 15-point maximum.
The win moves Havelock’s side level on 27 points with Eastbourne and Poole who sit third and fourth in the table.
“What I liked about Friday was that we came out strongly from the start again, as we did last week, and we seemed to be in some form of control for most of the meeting.” said Havelock.
“It would have been nice to have taken all three points, but when you have someone like Darcy Ward in the away team you have to say that he definitely is something special.
“We’re level with the play-off places now, but when you look at a couple of the teams there they are home-heavy – very good at home but not so good away, and I think as the season pans out our away form will help us get a top four spot.”
Elsewhere, Jason Garrity has been confirmed in a track reserve position for the British Grand Prix at the Millennium Stadium next month.
Garrity’s fifth place in the British Final last week has proved enough to book him a dream date at Cardiff where he will rub shoulders with the sport’s top stars.
Ben Barker, third at Wolverhampton on Monday, will take the first reserve position, and both riders will be called up for races on the night if any of the regular competitors suffer start-line disqualifications or are forced out of the meeting.