Shadow Wolves line-up pays the price
Wolverhampton sent a select side to Swindon last night – and paid the price with a 59-36 defeat.
Their night got off to the worst possible start as guests Justin Sedgmen and Michael Palm-Toft conceded a 5-1 in the opening race.
Things looked as though they would go the same way in heat two, but a determined ride from stand-in skipper Tom Perry saw him pass Nathan Greaves on the final lap to deny the Robins a second straight maximum advantage.
The deficit was reduced to two points in heat three when Palm-Toft and fellow guest Cameron Woodward held off Grand Prix star Troy Batchelor to secure the visitors' only 5-1 of the evening.
Sedgmen took an impressive race win in heat four before three consecutive Swindon heat advantages saw them pull 12 points clear with seven races gone.
Woodward made the most of being nominated for a double point tactical ride by winning heat eight, but Wolves were forced to settle for a 6-3 as Sedgmen came in last.
Heat nine saw the visiting reserves pick up a 3-3 and heat 10 appeared as though it would have the same outcome. But Swindon No.1 Peter Kildemand pulled off the ride of the night going from last to second on the final lap to secure the Robins' fourth 5-1 of the meeting.
Despite valiant efforts from Woodward, Lahti and Sedgmen, the visitors were unable to register another heat winner.
By Bryan Guest
