Wolves speedway edge past Swindon

Wolves 50 Swindon 42

When the irresistible force meets the immovable object, something has to give.

Swindon are on a big roll as they push for an Elite League play-off spot, but Wolves withstood withering pressure to hang on for three priceless points as they continue to pursue a top two place.

It was a superb meeting, packed with blistering racing - never more than in the final heat when the home team needed a share of the spoils to bag all three league points on offer.

Surprise package Grzegorz Zengota - a startling Monmore Green debut as Polish riders are generally happier on bigger circuits - shot past Fredrik Lindgren as the latter reared on the back straight.

The Wolves star swiftly hit the front, cutting underneath his rival off the fourth turn. And when Tai Woffinden's stunning pits bend propelled him past both Robins, the Monmore crowd exhaled happily as one.

Woffinden then found himself pushed wider than he would have liked, Zengota and silky veteran Leigh Adams easing through into the minor placings and giving chase, but Lindgren was not to be denied and took a fine win.

The Swede showed remarkable control two heats earlier when a huge back straight wheelie on the final lap looked certain to pitch him off the rear of his machine. Somehow he not only got the wheel down, but regained enough momentum to beat off the challenge of Adams.

Woffinden, third in that race, had opened with a stormer in heat four against fellow Great Britain selection Simon Stead. With Ludvig Lindgren making a sharp start to hit the front, Woffinden swiftly joined him.

But the Wolves pair's attempt to team ride was jettisoned inside 50 metres or so as Stead burst between them on the exit from bend four. Woffinden gave chase and eventually wrested the win from Stead in a race of the highest class.

A nip and tuck match saw Wolves lose reserve Matt Wethers to a heavy fall - he was knocked out but is expected to be back in the saddle for Edinburgh on Friday - while Nicolai Klindt rode despite a shoulder injury and repeatedly struggled on the pits bend.

So the home side were grateful for a rock solid 10 points from Adam Skornicki, the customary all-action contribution from Ty Proctor and the growing assurance of Ludvig Lindgren.

Swindon, with Adams again making a nonsense of suggestions that his final season would be a gentle wind-down, played a full part in a great night's entertainment but Wolves had just enough.

By Tim Hamblin