Wolves 50 Eastbourne 39

Contests between Wolves and Eastbourne are always close and highly competitive, and last night’s Elite League encounter saw both sides overcome poor weather as Wolves battled to victory.

After a dry day in Wolverhampton, the weather once again did its best to wreck the evening’s entertainment as a cloudburst arrived over Monmore right on cue an hour before the start, but track curator Alan Bridgett and his team ensured that the meeting went ahead on time.

Freddie Lindgren and David Howe led the Wolves charge, with Lindgren recovering from a ragged ride in the slippery conditions in the opener to be unbeaten by an opponent thereafter, producing a fine switch to take Edward Kennett for the lead of heat 6.

Howe, meanwhile, continued to use his favoured ultra-tight line exiting the turns, narrowly failing to catch Kennett in heat 11 and diving under Lewis Bridger for second behind Lindgren two heats later.

Eastbourne’s use of rider replacement for Scott Nicholls, who is still recovering from broken bones in his hand, worked well, with Cameron Woodward continuing his form from the side’s defeat of Wolves at Arlington on Saturday.

Niels Kristian Iversen struggled on the wet surface early on, falling in heat 3 to concede a 5-0 to the visitors with Kenneth Hansen already out of the heat, but he recovered to engage in a superb duel with Lee Richardson in heat 12.

Reserves Christian Hefenbrock and Nicolai Klindt both showed flashes of excellence with three wins between them, and manager Peter Adams was certainly pleased with his side’s performance.

“The weather was a great leveller,” he said, “and Eastbourne didn’t miss Nicholls too much.  All the riders did well, with Freddie and David leading the side.  Niels was not at his best, but anyone can be allowed an off night.”