Wolves’ speedway team face their now traditional early cup exit after a 21-point first-leg beating at the hands of a powerful Swindon.

They lost the services of Chris Kerr, who smashed into the fence after being brought down by the Robins’ Ryan Fisher in heat four.

The battered Kerr was withdrawn, though thankfully without major injury, leaving outgunned fellow-reserve Hynek Stichauer to take the full complement of seven rides while nursing injury himself.

Wolves were 10 points adrift after just three races, and although skipper Peter Karlsson nailed the full six on a double-point tactical ride in the fifth they were continually second best to a dominant home side and could manage four race wins only all night.

Nor did the fates shine on Wolves with their second use of the black-and-white helmet cover.

Adam Skornicki was entrusted with the task only to finish at the back while partner Tai Woffinden, ironically, sprang to life with his best ride of the night to beat home skipper Leigh Adams.

Karlsson scrapped doughtily with Adams in heat 13, before trundling to a halt with ignition failure and his evening ended with a tapes exclusion in the final race.

His machine again petered out before the remaining riders could be brought back to the line, so the decision was academic in any event.

Team boss Peter Adams’ first concern afterwards was the health of Kerr.

He said: “He was pretty battered in that crash. There was no question of him being able to continue.

“We have a weakness in that department, so that was a killer blow to have virtually no reserve from heat four.

“Hynek Stichauer was carrying a neck and arm injury. He was complaining about it before the start so it was hard on him to have to go out seven times.

“We couldn’t live with Swindon from the tapes. All the damage was done in those first three races, then we never looked like closing the gap.

“It was ironic, in the second use of the double-point ride, that I discussed it with Tai and Adam beforehand. Tai said: ‘Don’t look at me!’ so it had to be Adam, who’d had a couple of good races up to then.

“Woffinden beats Leigh Adams and Skornicki is at the back! You should be able to decide after the race who wore the black-and-white helmet!

“We’ve got to concentrate on Monday now (Lakeside at home) and get our league programme off to the start we’re all looking for. I think we will.”

The second leg against Swindon is on April 6.

Swindon: Leigh Adams 13+1, Troy Batchelor 13+1, Ryan Fisher 10+1, Jurica Pavlic 8+2, Simon Stead 7, Travis McGowan 4+1, Krzysztof Stojanowski 2+1.

Wolves: Peter Karlsson 11, Fredrik Lindgren 8, Tai Woffinden 6+1, Adam Skornicki 6, Nicolai Klindt 3, Hynek Stichauer 2+1, Chris Kerr 0.