Wolverhampton Wolves book play-off spot with stunning performance
Wolverhampton sensationally booked their place in the Premiership play-offs with a stunning performance at Poole, writes Ryan Guest.
Parrys International Wolves took all four league points with a storming 49-41 victory – and, with Belle Vue dropping a point at Peterborough, that confirmed a top-four finish.
Even on a night when skipper Rory Schlein was withdrawn with a shoulder injury, the Monmore men were bouncing in the pits after a spirited performance at Wimborne Road.
They sent a message out to the high-flying Pirates from the off by winning the opening four races.
That allowed them to open up an early eight-point lead with three of them advantages over the Dorset side.
American talent Luke Becker featured in all three too on a brilliant show of maturity and class from the 20-year-old as he quickly put Monday’s individual night to forget in the win over King’s Lynn well and truly behind him.
He took the chequered flag in heats one and four, making the most of two excellent starts from the inside gate and riding a brilliant line to hold off the fast charging Jack Holder in the latter. Inbetween those races he settled in behind reserve partner Ryan Douglas in the second for a 5-1 maximum before Schlein found some much-needed drive into the first turn to get ahead of his rivals in heat three.
The hosts provided their first race winner of the night in heat five when former Wolf Nicolai Klindt reacted quickest, but Douglas and Sam Masters kept Poole skipper Josh Grajczonek behind them for a share of the spoils.
Heat six saw Wolves’ lead temporarily halved as they conceded their first maximum of the night before an awkward moment in the seventh saw Holder tangle with Schlein with both riders eventually hitting the deck. Both took their place in the re-run and were involved in a thrilling tussle, exchanging places on more than one occasion.
Holder eventually got his nose back in front to finish second while Nick Morris recovered from a last place in his opening ride to lead the 4-2. Morris then combined with Becker for a 5-1 in the ninth, both coming either side of Nico Covatti into bend three after the home man got away with a huge flyer as Wolves moved 10 up.
The hosts responded with back-to-back maximums to crank up the pressure – but that was soaked up well by No.1 Sam Masters who recorded successive race wins in heats 11 and 13 to to deny the visitors the chance to close the gap.
Wolves thought they’d got it won in the penultimate race when Tomas H Jonasson fell after clouting the back of Morris, but Grajczonek flew around the two Wolves to set up a last heat decider.
Masters and Morris piled on the pressure of a fast starting Klindt and forced two errors from the Dane to seal a dramatic last gasp 5-1 to keep their title dreams alive.
Wolves will aim to keep their momentum going with a final regular league trip to Peterborough on Tuesday, September 17 (7.30).
Poole 41: Nicolai Klindt 15, Brady Kurtz 8+2, Jack Holder 8, Josh Grajczonek 6+2, Nico Covatti 3+1, Ricky Wells 1, Tomas H Jonasson 0.
Wolverhampton 49: Luke Becker 15+1, Nick Morris 11+3, Sam Masters 10+2, Ryan Douglas 5, Jacob Thorssell 4, Rory Schlein 4, Kyle Howarth R/R.
