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Wolverhampton Wolves are speedway Elite League CHAMPIONS

Wolverhampton Wolves have been crowned speedway Elite League Champions on a memorable night in Manchester.

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The Parrys International Wolves suffered a 50-42 second leg defeat, but a battling second half performance ensured a 86-96 triumph on aggregate.

After gaining an 18-point lead in the first leg at Monmore Green on Monday, the Wolves knew they simply had to bide their time and be patient.

Swedish duo Freddie Lindgren and Peter Karlsson, who were both part of the winning side in 2009, got the night up and running with an important opening heat advantage.

Lindgren made the gate and stormed clear while Karlsson battled hard for third place with a good ride to hold off Steve Worrall to extend the aggregate lead by 20 points.

But the Aces responded in perfect fashion and got themselves back into contention with consecutive maximum heat advantages.

Wolverhampton reserve duo Kyle Howarth and Max Clegg missed the gate in the second and that allowed Richie Worrall and former Wolf Joe Jacobs to race to a comfortable 5-1.

The Aces made a quicker getaway in the third with Sam Masters being squeezed out by Max Fricke and Craig Cook.

Karlsson made all his experience count to split the Worrall twins duo in the fifth with a smart switch of lines.

Lindgren flew from gate one in the sixth but all the action was behind him. Masters was involved in an intense battle with Fricke and Scott Nicholls and just managed to hold on to third for a 4-2 as the Wolves moved 12 in front.

A Belle Vue 5-1 in the seventh saw the Wolves fall ten points behind and that allowed team manager Peter Adams to play a double points tactical ride.

He nominated World Champion Tai Woffinden in heat nine and despite chasing the dirt, he was unable to catch Richie Worrall and was forced to settle for four points in second.

A third win of the night from Lindgren was crucially backed up with another key ride from Karlsson who wound it on around the outside before catching Cook unawares on lap three.

Two further shared heats ensured Wolves just needed one race winner from the final three races.

An explosive heat 13 saw Lindgren involved in a spectacular battle with Zagar and Cook and forced to settle for second.

But the Wolves tied up the title with a race to spare as Woffinden, who was brought back into the side in August, produced a ride of true class to drift Fricke wide to take the chequered flag and seal his second league title with the club.

The Parrys International Wolves will display the League trophy at the Olympique Individual at Monmore Green next Tuesday.

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