Wolverhampton Wolves pipped at the post by Poole Pirates
Wolverhampton were denied having been level or ahead until the final race of a 46-44 speedway defeat at Poole, writes Andy Mitchell.
In-form Pirate Brady Kurtz registered a five-race full maximum for the hosts with his last hurrah alongside Hans Andersen producing the only 5-1 of the night.
Kyle Howarth kicked off with a tapes-to-flag triumph, getting the better of persistent Poole debutant Grzegorz Zengota in a shared race.
Wolves edged in front through the reserve heat as Mark Riss was sharp enough out of the gate to beat guest Josh Bates, while Nathan Greaves kept his cool in third as opponent James Shanes fell during his pursuit of a point.
Jacob Thorssell and then Rory Schlein reeled in Kyle Newman within the first lap of heat three with the Swede close to hunting down winner Kurtz. Sam Masters was then passed by home skipper Andersen but, crucially, Greaves again got the better of Shanes.
In heat five Kurtz took a second win but Howarth and stand-in Josh Grajczonek forced out Newman. Poole hit back with a first heat advantage in the sixth as Jack Holder stormed away but Masters caught Zengota to prevent a home maximum. However, Schlein outpaced Andersen after a close start with Thorssell staying in front of Bates for a 4-2.
Holder’s second commanding win of the night was helped by Shanes forcing his way to a first point on the opening lap with Greaves’s attempts to catch up resulting in a lap-three tumble.
Kurtz made it three from three with Masters and Riss picking up the rest and Wolves led for a third time after heat 10 as Schlein edged out Holder.
Howarth emerged victorious from a tussle with Andersen to extend to four points the away side’s lead in heat 11 with Schlein then getting the better of Newman for a 3-3 despite a fall for Riss.
Grajczonek saved his best for last to win heat 13 but the match was still tight as Andersen and Zengota slipped past Masters on the opening lap.
Kurtz continued his unstoppable run with Thorssell limiting the damage to split Poole’s pair and give Wolves a narrow edge.
But with Kurtz too hot to handle and Andersen keeping the tenacious Schlein in check, three points became one at the death.
