Wolves fail to depose Monarchs

Some may have dubbed it as a "meaningless challenge" but the Parrys International Wolves put on a good show on their first Scottish trip for four years last night, an unfamiliar-looking squad just missing out on success at Edinburgh.

Wolves rested top stars Peter Karlsson and Billy Hamill to even up with their Premier League opposition, and after rumours that Grand Prix stars Jason Crump and Leigh Adams would guest for the Monarchs proved unfounded the match looked a somewhat easier task.

David Howe and Fredrik Lindgren headed the side into battle, with Howe exemplary in his early rides as he led from the front on a consistent Armadale race strip.

Lindgren, however, seemed to struggle to find the correct lines, particularly in heat 9 when passed by William Lawson and Theo Pijper.

Several ex-Wolves were present on the night, including James Grieves who substituted for Hamill. The Scot was rapid on his way to two wins, impressing out of the starts, while former Wolves junior Matt Wethers also looked useful at reserve for the home side.

Grieves' Redcar team-mate Chris Kerr also guested for the visitors but struggled to get to grips with the track, persisting in using a wide line in his early rides and missing out on the grippier parts of the circuit. He was also involved in a slightly bizarre incident in heat 7 when he fell and was excluded only for the referee to realise the Wolves pair had started from the incorrect gate positions and reinstate him for the rerun!

Kerr redeemed himself with a good effort in the penultimate heat, only a lift of the front wheel while challenging Lawson prevented him from edging past.

After a good showing at Peterborough the night before Carl Wilkinson was expected to do well, but sadly failed to deliver on his way to just a couple of points, while reserve partner Arlo Bugeja, a recent Redcar signing, fell in three of his four outings.

Another man predicted to go well was Magnus Karlsson, a previous Premier League title winner with the Monarchs. He tucked in behind Howe for a 5-1 in the opening heat but was overtaken by Lawson in his next outing, on a night where passing moves were few and far between.

A win in heat 8 seemed to improve his confidence.

They may have lost narrowly on the night but the result was irrelevant in this friendly fixture, which featured no fewer than 10 riders with past or present links to the Monmore club.