Coventry Storm were beaten 52-42 in the first leg of the National League Grand Final at Cradley Heathens.
At Monmore, the Storm were beaten 5-1 in the opening heat and after a 3-3, Cradley took the third heat 5-1.
Two more 3-3's were followed by James Sarjeant winning in a 4-2 in heat six before two 5-1's to Cradley saw the Storm 31-17 down.
Sarjeant took a tactical ride in heat nine and came second in a 4-4, before the Storm took a 5-1 win in a twice re-run heat ten through Stefan Nielsen and Dan Greenwood.
Cradley took heat eleven 4-2, so Neilsen took another tactical and came second in a 5-3 before Sarjeant and guest Simon Lambert rode for a 5-1 to the Storm.
That brought the Storm to within six points but two 4-2's meant that Cradley have a ten point lead over the Storm in the second leg.
CRADLEY 52: Paul Starke 13, Max Clegg 11+1, Matt Williamson 9+2, Tom Perry 8+1, Steve Worrall 5, Danny Phillips 4+1, Nathan Greaves 2+1
COVENTRY 42: James Sarjeant 14, Stefan Nielsen 9, Simon Lambert 8+1, Martin Knuckey 6+2, Dan Greenwood 4+1, Ryan Terry-Daley 1, Luke Priest 0