Aussie rules as Wolverhampton Wolves win
Aussie ace Rory Schlein haunted his former club as a 15-point maximum led Wolverhampton to a 49-41 win over King’s Lynn at Monmore.
An action-packed Premiership clash saw Wolves secure their third victory of the campaign as Lynn made only their third appearance on track since the start of the season.
And Schlein, who almost saw his career ended by a broken back during his time in Stars colours, capped off a faultless performance with a heat 15 victory to ensure the gritty Norflolk side left empty handed.
It appeared a long evening was ahead for the visitors when Jacob Thorssell and Ashley Morris picked off Michael Palm Toft in heat one before shutting out hard-charging Niels-Kristian Iversen with some expert team-riding.
It was the first of two 5-1s to begin the evening, but they simply could not pull clear as the Stars kept within touching distance.
A win for Palm Toft almost pulled them within two points in heat eight, but Morris and Nathan Greaves both sliced underneath Lewis Kerr on the final lap to keep their opponents at arm’s length.
Jacob Thorssell and Kyle Howarth demonstrated expert starting to move them 10 ahead after 10 races, although the Stars simply would not lie down and hit back courtesy of tactical substitute Robert Lambert and former Wolves man Ty Proctor in heat 12.
It gave them a timely boost following the interval and reignited hopes of a consolation point – and those hopes went down to the very last race.
Yet they were dashed at the death as Schlein stormed clear for his fifth straight win, completing a dominant display in which he was largely untroubled by an opposing rider.
Thorssell impressed for Wolves in the No.1 spot with three race wins, while Morris played a vital role again at reserve to continue his rich vein of form.
Talented youngster Robert Lambert was the Stars’ top performer to build on his excellent start to the campaign, but he could not quite perform last-heat heroics.
A difficult evening for No.1 Niels-Kristian Iversen cost the visitors, but ex-Wolves man Ty Proctor provided another positive on a night where riders taking on their former clubs impressed.
The result gives Wolves another three points to continue their strong start to the campaign, whilst King’s Lynn can again take plenty of encouragement from a brave away performance.
