Wolves' class shines through in win
The bad news about a top-heavy Wolves side is that its lesser lights can be exposed by a more balanced outfit.
Wolves 49 Eastbourne 41
The bad news about a top-heavy Wolves side is that its lesser lights can be exposed by a more balanced outfit.
The good news is, when it comes to the crunch, all-star heats 13 and 15, you've got Freddie Lindgren, Tai Woffinden and Peter Karlsson to rely on.
A see-saw match eventually tilted the way of Wolves with maximums in those races, bookending a fine from the back victory in heat 14 by Woffinden.
Lindgren and Woffinden both went through the card but, while the 21-year-old Briton was headed only once, his Swedish counterpart had to protect his scorechart the hard way.
An extraordinary heat six saw Ty Proctor lead after an inside dash out of the pits turn. Lindgren appeared to squirm under Joonas Kylmakorpi to join him but the Eagles star kept it wound on to regain second spot.
Lindgren then rounded Proctor but the Aussie committed instantly to the inside line out of turn two and got the drive to regain the lead.
Indeed, Kylmakorpi's error in the corner gave Lindgren all the incentive he needed to get through too for a vital 5-1, which edged the home team in front.
Heat 13 saw Lindgren do it again. Bjarne Pedersen was first to show and, although the Wolves star was through on the inside, Pedersen nosed ahead once more.
Karlsson then appeared from nowhere with great drive off the inside line to pass them both and Lindgren powered through to finish the job.
Eastbourne were still not finished and Lewis Bridger won the drag race to the third corner alongside Woffinden in the next race.
Time was when Woffinden would have kept the throttle to the stop, tried to blast his way round and escaped with a minor fall at best.
But smoothness and race craft now form his creed, a quick switch inside, a drive to the apex and an exit line judged to a nicety saw him back in front and perfectly positioned to close the door.
Eastbourne could still have salvaged a draw with a last-heat 5-1 but Lindgren and Woffinden streaked clear to finish in style.
By Tim Hamblin
