Wolves fail to last the pace

The Parrys International Wolves, who were without key middle order man Kyle Howarth due to shoulder muscle damage, were made to pay for a sluggish run between heats four and eight where the hosts built up the majority of their lead.

It was a positive enough start for Wolves who won all three of the opening races – but that honour went to the hosts for the next six heats as they reeled off five straight advantages in the process to open up a 12-point gap.

No.1 Sam Masters took the first heat of the night as he rounded a fast starting Michael Palm Toft off bend two in a race which also saw him get the better of reigning British champion Robert Lambert, who made the semi-finals of Saturday’s Speedway Grand Prix in Slovenia.

American ace Luke Becker received a 15-metre handicap after breaking the tapes in the second, but Ashley Morris made a stunning gate to help him on his way to taking the flag in another shared race against the side he had a stint with in 2015.

There was more drama on the start line in the third when former Wolf Ty Proctor was thrown out the race for going through the tapes – and recently returned pair Jacob Thorssell and Nick Morris combined for a 5-1 to break the deadlock.

But that was as good as things got for the visitors as Lynn recorded five maximums of their own on thweir way to moving 30-18 in front.

Proctor and Thomas Jorgensen looked on course for a second successive advantage together for the hosts in the ninth when the latter worked hard to get by Wolves skipper Rory Schlein mid-race, only to be denied a third place point when mechanical gremlins crept in just moments later. Thorssell, who was brought in as a tactical substitute was forced to settle for second.

But it was the Swede who halted King’s Lynn’s dominant spell with an impressive defensive ride under pressure from Lambert but partner Morris slid off on bend four and Wolves were unable to claw any points back.

Thorssell would add another race win to his tally in the 12th heat after Masters had recorded a second race win of the night in heat 11.

And when Becker put four disappointing last places behind him to lead a 5-1 with Morris in the penultimate race, Wolves had the chance to snatch a consolation league point.

But home debutant Craig Cook and fired up skipper Lambert made the gate in heat 15 and left Masters and Thorssell behind with the Wolves licking their wounds.

Wolves host Peterborough at Monmore next Monday(7.30pm).

King’s Lynn 52: Craig Cook 13+1, Michael Palm Toft 8+2, Robert Lambert 8+1, Lewis Kerr 7+3, Ty Proctor 7+1, Thomas Jorgensen 5, Simon Lambert 4+1.

Wolverhampton 38: Jacob Thorssell 13, Sam Masters 8, Rory Schlein 6+1, Nick Morris 4+2, Ashley Morris 4, Luke Becker 3, Kyle Howarth R/R.