Wolves narrowly edge out Swindon

Woffinden, who had a nasty spill on Thursday and was knocked out on Sunday at Coventry in a smash that split his crash helmet, was checked over by Molineux physio staff yesterday who expected him to be out of action for two to three months.

Instead the 19-year-old declared himself fit to compete last night – and scorched to a four-ride maximum.

The irrepressible Woffinden made light of his handicap in the pits before the match, affecting a heavily exaggerated limp with arm tucked into sweatshirt once he fell under the appraising eye of team manager Peter Adams.

But on a tight track made remorselessly heavy by the afternoon downpours, Woffinden clearly suffered. Normally ultra-smooth on a bike, he was pushed to the very ragged edge of control by the pursuing Leigh Adams in heat five and the exertion told on him.

The young star had nothing left in the tank after his programmed rides and was unable to face an outing in the nominated heat 15.

However, his job was done and Wolves, although they dropped their first Monmore point of the season, edged home against their big rivals and now top the league once more.

For that they can also thank, as ever, number one Fredrik Lindgren. The Swede eased to his fourth successive maximum with three super-smooth victories over Adams, his rival at the top of the league averages.

The highest compliment that can be paid to Lindgren is, despite the level of opposition, he never once looked like dropping a point.

Third out of the traps in heat one he was ahead before the riders had even exited the second turn. And five races later, when Matej Zagar got the drop on him from the start, Lindgren flew inside on the fourth turn and pulled clear.

With Woffinden and Lindgren in such fine fettle it wouldn't have needed too much backing from down the order for the Parrys International Wolves – who were first to the flag in 11 of the 15 races – to take all three points.

But skipper Peter Karlsson suffered that rare speedway misfortune, a broken frame, in his first outing and seemed to lack a little pace thereafter. Indeed it took a monumental effort just to snatch second from Morten Risager and prevent a Robins 5-1 in heat 11.

The second strings also struggled and Swindon, packing solidly and taking heat advantages from all four of their race wins, will feel they have established a slight but significant psychological edge before the play-offs.

As a taut match entered its final four heats with the teams level Wolves were also grateful that guest William Lawson then twice took vital points from opposite number Mark Lemon.

Travis McGowan's heat 14 win ensured that Swindon would get something from the match and even gave them a shot at victory. Wolves needed at least a share of the spoils from the last race to ensure a win and Lindgren, inevitably, delivered.

Even Woffinden has to share the limelight sometimes.