Coventry 47, Oxford 43: Controversy abounded at Coventry on Sunday night as the Silver Machine went down in their Elite League clash.

The Bees, who complained loudly about the state of the Oxford circuit on Good Friday, produced their own dustbowl for this fixture.

And there was a rumpus in heat 12 when Scottish referee Jim McGregor refused to allow a tactical move by the Silver Machine.

Nigel Wagstaff tried to put Grand Prix hero Nicki Pedersen in as a tactical replacement for Steve Masters, who had had only two of his minimum three rides at this point.

It was Oxford's intention to put him in heat 14 instead of fellow reserve Charlie Gjedde, but the referee insisted that he could not be taken out of the heat before his third ride.

Despite protests, he was not to be moved and although Pedersen was bought out in heat 14, the match was already lost.

Wagstaff later received a call from the referee apologising and admitting that he had made a mistake. The Silver Machine management may appeal.

Oxford fought hard throughout the meeting, despite a maximum reverse in the first heat.

Gjedde won the second, but teammate Steve Masters was rooted firmly to the back. This was the pattern which followed for the next three heats.

Coventry pulled further ahead in heat six, which was the race of the night. Billy Hamill and Billy Janniro once again made the gate, but Pedersen fought his way into second place.

The Bees went ten points up after a 4-2 in heat 13, before Oxford dug in to give themselves a good chance of claiming the aggregate bonus point when the Bees visit Cowley in July.

Coventry: Hamill 10, Janniro 6+1, Richardson 7+2, Stu Robson 6+1, Jonsson 13, Bunyan 2, Fisher 3+3. 47pts.

Oxford: Wiltshire 10, McGowan 1+1, Boyce 6+1, Ulamek 6+1, Pedersen 15+1, Masters 2, Gjedde 3. 43pts.

HEAT DETAILS

Heat 1: Hamill, Janniro, Wiltshire, McGowan. 60.5 sec.

Heat 2: Gjedde, Bunyan, Fisher, Masters. 60.4.

Heat 3: Boyce, Robson, Richardson, Ulamek. 59.9.

Heat 4: Pedersen, Jonsson, Fisher, Gjedde. 60.0.

Heat 5: Wiltshire, Richardson, Robson, McGowan. 60.2.

Heat 6: Hamill, Pedersen, Janniro, Masters. 60.6.

Heat 7: Jonsson, Boyce, Ulamek, Bunyan. 60.7.

Heat 8: Wiltshire, Janniro, Fisher, Gjedde. 61.0 .

Heat 9: Pedersen, Robson, Richardson, Boyce. 61.0.

Heat 10: Hamill, Ulamek, Janniro, Boyce (f). 61.6.

Heat 11: Jonsson, Wiltshire, McGowan, Bunyan. 61.2.

Heat 12: Richardson, Masters, Boyce, Fisher (f). 61.5.

Heat 13: Jonsson, Pedersen, Hamill, Wiltshire. 60.4.

Heat 14: Ulamek, Pedersen, Robson, Bunyan. 61.6.

Heat 14:Pedersen, Jonsson, Wiltshire, Richardson (ef). 61.7.