Wolves downed at Coventry
Wolves suffered their third defeat in four days, going down 53-40 in an incident-packed Elite League encounter at Coventry.
Wolves suffered their third defeat in four days, going down 53-40 in an incident-packed Elite League encounter at Coventry.
Fresh from a home loss to Ipswich on Monday and a heavy beating at Lakeside the previous evening, a little hope seemed to be restored for the Wolves.
Skipper Fredrik Lindgren and former Coventry man Morten Risager sped to a 4-2 in the opener, with Lindgren sending Hans Andersen wide on the first turn.
Any optimism for the visiting fans was quickly extinguished by two consecutive Bees 5-1s, so another night of struggle for the Wolves was in prospect.
Coventry lost Oliver Allen with rib injuries following a controversial first turn clash in heat 11.
Lindgren, starting from the inside gate, moved sharply towards the outside as the riders left the line and clashed with Allen, sending the Bees heat leader sprawling in a nasty-looking tumble.
Referee Dave Watters surprised several supporters by declaring a re-run with all four riders, but Allen was unfit to take his place and was replaced by guest reserve Ryan Fisher, who added to his impressive paid 13 total.
Lindgren dropped just one point all evening, while Niels Kristian Iversen only declared himself fit to ride during the afternoon, after picking up a hand injury at Lakeside the previous evening, but he showed little effect of his handicap.
The Dane scored six points after being nominated for a tactical ride in heat 7, before battling with Andersen and Chris Harris in his next two rides, but he saved his best for the final heat.
As Lindgren led from the start, Iversen superbly burst between the Bees pairing and held them off all the way, securing the visitors' second 5-1 of the night and denying Harris a maximum.
Ludvig Lindgren predictably struggled on his Brandon debut, while Risager barely showed that he was once a Coventry rider, rounding off his night with a high-speed trip into the air fence, after picking up too much grip in the re-run of heat 11.
Wolves are next in action at Monmore Green on Monday as they take on Premier League side Birmingham in the first leg of the Midland Shield, while their next Elite League encounter is at Peterborough next Thursday.
