Coventry Bees speedway team were beaten in their opening Elite League meeting of the new season by Poole this morning.
At Brandon for the first of two meetings today, the Bees had Chris Harris back but not could deal with Darcy Ward who rode to an eighteen point maximum after the Bees had built up a ten point lead after heat nine.
Ward took a tactical ride in heat ten and rode away to an 8-1 victory which was followed up by a 5-1 and a 4-2 in heat thirteen after Harris was forced to retire.
Poole took the last heat to win the meeting 49-44.
The sides meet back at Wimbourne Road at 8pm tonight..