Swindon 51 Wolverhampton 39 - Report
Wolverhampton's away day woes continued last night as they fell to a 51-39 defeat at Swindon...writes Ryan Guest.
While their home record is immaculate, the Parrys International Wolves are still searching for their first win on the road after another struggle throughout the top of the table clash.
Jacob Thorssell was able to split the home duo on the opening lap as he worked his way by Adam Ellis but couldn't catch Nick Morris.
The hosts were gifted the opportunity to double their advantage in Heat Two when Ashley Morris slid off whilst in second place on the second lap while skipper Rory Schlein rounded David Bellego down the back straight on lap two of the third to prevent a Swindon 5-1.
Thorssell made a much brighter gate alongside Kyle Howarth in the fifth, but flying Frenchman Bellego stormed underneath a napping Wolves duo into bend three on the opening lap with the gap staying at six points.
Wolves had to wait until Heat Six for their first winner courtesy of Sam Masters who got his nose in front from the tapes.
Schlein followed suit in the next outwitting former Wolf Tobiasz Musielak on the final lap before the visitors were handed a golden opportunity to get themselves back in it in the eighth.
With home man Ellis destroying the starting tapes, the hosts were left with their reserve duo to handle the pressure in the re-run.
Wolves would've fancied their chances of a maximum, and while Morris took the chequered flag Howarth could only manage third after replacement rider Zach Wajtknecht chopped back underneath off bend four.
Masters and Nathan Greaves temporarily sat on a 5-1 in the ninth, before Bellego and Troy Batchelor forced their way by over the first couple of laps to turn the heat into a Swindon 4-2.
While Thorssell was able to record back-to-back wins in Heats 11 and 13, it was the race sandwiched in the middle which ended any hopes of an unlikely comeback.
Team manager Peter Adams rolled the dice by bringing in Schlein as a tactical substitute and Morris as a reserve switch, but the pair were beaten out of the gates as Swindon bagged an important first 5-1 of the night.
Wolves head to Midland rivals Leicester on Monday (May 21, 7.30).
SWINDON 51: Troy Batchelor 12, Nick Morris 10+1, Zach Wajtknecht 9+3, Tobiasz Musielak 9, David Bellego 7, Adam Ellis 3+1, Jack Smith 1.
WOLVERHAMPTON 39: Rory Schlein 13, Jacob Thorssell 9+1, Sam Masters 7, Ashley Morris 5+1, Kyle Howarth 3, Nathan Greaves 2, Cameron Heeps 0.
