Wolves 53 Coventry 37

Few present at Monmore Green last night expected such a spectacular season opener as Wolves took a superb victory over Coventry in the Craven Shield.

All seven members of the new-look Wolves side played a major part, with new signings Niels Kristian Iversen and Ales Dryml taking centre stage.

Iversen dropped just a point on his new home track, and the Grand Prix rider produced the ride of the night when he swept past Rory Schlein and Billy Janniro in one move in heat five.

"The side can only go forward from here," he said afterwards.

Dryml looked very rapid on his way to two wins, the Czech star saying his seven-point haul was his best-ever performance at Monmore.

"When I came here before I struggled with my equipment," he said. "But now I have my set-up right and I love the track."

New captain Fredrik Lindgren ran a fourth place first time out but bounced back to score paid 11, displaying some stunning team riding with David Howe in heats 13 and 15.

The Swede was pleased with his team's efforts and said that the performance proved the side would work well together in 2008.

Coventry's British champion Chris 'Bomber' Harris's night got off to a bad start in heat three when his engine failed, before Kenneth Hansen got out of shape entering the last lap and his chain came off.

The Dane valiantly tried to push his machine round for a point, but with a seized back wheel was forced to admit defeat.

Surprise of the night for many was the form of new reserve Nicolai Klindt, who looked a different rider to the one who appeared at last week's practice session.

Having hit the deck at the first time of asking in heat two, the young Dane proceeded to win the re-run by the biggest margin of the night, with fast-gating reserve partner Christian Hefenbrock following.

Both reserves showed a fine turn of pace for the rest of the evening.

This was just the performance the Wolves needed to get their season rolling, and they hope to carry this form over to their visits to Belle Vue (11am) and Coventry (7.30pm) on Good Friday, before entertaining the Aces at Monmore Green on Easter Monday.

• Last night's second-half action saw three youngsters arrive for three heats of action, Rob Smith winning the first but failing to appear for the other two, both of which were won by Richard Franklin from Adam Chandler.

• Other results: Craven Shield – Eastbourne 52 (Scott Nicholls/Lee Richardson 10+1) Swindon 41 (Leigh Adams 17).

Challenge – Reading 54 (Mark Lemon 13+1) Somerset 37 (Emil Kramer 10).