Wolves are still looking for their first away win of the season following a 53-40 defeat at title hopefuls Lakeside.

Both teams had key riders missing. The Hammers were without Adam Shields, Jonas Davidsson and Joonas Kylmakorpi because of injury. Wolves also had Ales Dryml (en route to European Final) and Kenneth Hansen (virus) absent.

Wolves got off to the worst possible start conceding a 5-1 in the opening race. Chris Kerr and Niels Kristian Iversen then gave the Midlanders a share of the points over the next couple of heats but further maximums put the Hammers into an unassailable 26-10 lead after six races.

Iversen donned the black and white helmet for double points in heat seven. The Dane raced to an impressive victory ahead of David Howe and Lewis Bridger. The ensuing 8-1 briefly reduced the arrears to 27-18.

Wolves skipper Freddie Lindgren went off a 15-metre handicap in heat eight in his quest for double points but the Swede couldn’t make any impression in third place, behind the home pair of Lubos Tomicek and Leigh Lanham.

The Hammers victory was confirmed with a 5-1 and a 4-2 in heats nine and 10. Wolves did stage a mini-recovery in the closing stages but it was too little, too late.