Wolverhampton Wolves earn a useful point

Heat-leader duo Sam Masters and Jacob Thorssell made a much needed gate in the final race of the night to seal an important 5-1 and ensure they walked away with something to show for their efforts.

It was Thorssell who flew to the chequered flag in the opener with Cameron Heeps, taking the rider replacement ride for Kyle Howarth who competed in the Grand Prix qualifier in Germany on the afternoon, tucking in for third to give Wolves an early advantage.

They looked set to double that lead in heat two but Ashley Morris slid off on bend three of the first lap, gifting the hosts with a 4-2 of their own.

Morris again made a couple of textbook starts in heats four and five but found himself passed by Leicester’s pair of guests Richie Worrall and Ricky Wells in each, being forced to settle for second on both occasions.

Wolves were made to pay for being outgated in heats six and eight as Leicester bagged two important 5-1 maximums to open up an eight-point lead.

That prompted team manager Peter Adams to bring in Sam Masters as a tactical substitute in the ninth, but Krystian Pieszczek dealt with him and skipper Rory Schlein in the opening bends to pick up his second race win of the night.

A determined Masters got his nose in front in the next while Heeps joined him out front as Wolves got themselves back in contention with the score 32-28.

But they were soon brought crashing back down as Thorssell slid out of heat 11 while challenging for the lead and Greaves also took a tumble in the re-run.

Greaves and Heeps looked in control of heat 12 before former Wolf Wells charged under the pair in the space of half a lap to deny Wolves another 5-1.

Schlein attempted to join Thorssell out at the front of heat 13, but a ruthless move from Worrall saw him block his run by chopping off his front wheel.

And while James Sarjeant wrapped up the win for the hosts in the penultimate race, it was a positive way for Wolves to end ahead of their trip to Poole.