Wolves trump Aces in last heat thriller

WOLVES 48 BELLE VUE 45

Last heat deciders have become almost standard fare at Monmore Green these days, and Wolves left it late to defeat Belle Vue 48-45 in an Elite League Bank Holiday thriller.

Ten points clear after only four heats, a tactical ride victory for Jason Crump and two quick-fire 5-1s reduced the Aces' deficit to a solitary point, and the Manchester side continued to snap at Wolves' heels.

Some outstanding racing ensued as the Elite League's two basement sides battled it out, and a heat 14 5-1 looked set to send the points the Aces' way with Wolves needing a 4-2 to secure a win, but the visitors reckoned without the gating ability of Niels Kristian Iversen and Fredrik Lindgren.

The pair shot out of the gate in the final race and pulled away to secure a nail-biting victory, with the rare sight of Crump taking two last places in the same meeting.

The return to form of Ales Dryml was a welcome sight, with the Czech being paid for double figures, including an epic duel with Charlie Gjedde for second in heat 10 as Lindgren raced clear.

Dryml said that he had been handicapping himself in recent matches by continually tinkering with his machine set-up, but he has finally found a system which works on Monmore Green's tight turns.

The evening's other highlight came in heat 12 when Iversen, fired up by the frustration of finishing third three heats earlier, produced his finest ride of 2008 so far by carving from third to first past Gjedde and impressive Aces reserve Billy Forsberg, who netted an amazing paid 14.

Iversen had earlier snatched second place on the line from Patrick Hougaard in heat 5 as Crump sped to his six-point tactical victory, denying the Aces an 8-1 at the death.

Jesper B Monberg seemed slightly out of touch on his way to three points, and was unable to catch Hougaard in an all-Danish heat 7, while Nicolai Klindt initially continued the flying form shown in last Monday's win over Coventry, but tailed off in later rides, including a fall in heat 12.

Kenneth Hansen made his return after recovering from the effects of a virus, and produced an impressive ride to finish second behind Crump in heat 11.

While David Howe showed further signs of a return to form following some weeks of struggle, although he couldn't chase down Forsberg in heat 14.

The large Bank Holiday crowd went home happy after an unexpected Wolves triumph which moved the side off the bottom of the table.

The club will be hoping to claim their first away win of 2008 when they visit Manchester for the return fixture on Wednesday. Monberg will be absent due to a clashing Danish League fixture, and Workington's Joe Haines will deputise.