Luckless Wolves fall at last

One of the closest encounters seen at Monmore Green for some time ended in disappointment for Wolves as they slipped to a narrow 48-42 defeat to Swindon Robins.

There was never more than four points between the sides until the final race, but three heat advantages in the last three races swung the tide in Swindon's favour. The home side needed a 5-1 in the final race to take the win, but when Leigh Adams and Troy Batchelor gated it looked all over.

Wolves skipper Freddie Lindgren gave chase, but on the third lap lost control heading into turn one and slid off, with partner Edward Kennett quickly laying down his machine to avoid him. Lindgren was soon on his feet, despite a knock to his knee, but Swindon were awarded a 5-1 and the three Elite League points.

Almost every race provided great action for the Sky Sports cameras, with heat one setting the tone as Ales Dryml and Lindgren did their utmost to hold off Adams, the Robins skipper stealing second from the Swede with an audacious last-bend lunge.

Adams lowered the track record to 54.55 seconds in heat 5, while the impressive Batchelor also went close to the 55-second barrier as late as heat 9.

Kenneth Hansen was a late withdrawal for Wolves following his crash in Finland on Saturday, with number eight Chris Neath replacing him. The Rye House man went on to score a single point, also suffering the loss of a chain on the first lap of heat 4.

Guest Kennett was the star for the home side, again proving a reliable replacement for Niels Kristian Iversen, while Christian Hefenbrock, fresh from qualifying for the semi-finals of the 2009 Grand Prix qualifiers, produced a tenacious ride in the penultimate race to battle it out with James Wright and Travis McGowan.

Wright, fresh from an excellent performance in the British Final down at Swindon last Thursday, was by far the star man for the Robins, scoring an amazing 11 points from reserve, although he just lost out on second place to David Howe in heat 11 after clipping the fence on the final turn.

Howe had hoped to improve after struggling with his machines' ignition set-up in recent meetings, but he seemed slightly off the pace again, while Dryml had an up-and-down evening on his way to eight points.

The threatening rain fortunately did not arrive until after heat 15, but many Wolves fans' spirits were certainly dampened by the club's fourth home defeat of the season.

The next round of the club's hoped-for climb up the table takes place at Arena-Essex this Friday, as the Monmore men visit the Lakeside Hammers.