Unlike Wimbledon, Monmore Green lacks a roof with which to repel the elements – as Wolves 50-42 win over Eastbourne proved.

But if SW19 has multi-million pound engineering, WV2 has track wizard Alan Bridgett.

Somehow the ‘Doc’ and his dedicated crew defied the torrents and managed to get this match up and running for the Sky cameras.

Yes, there were a few spills. No, racing was nowhere near the exalted calibre that has made the Green – by common consent – the Elite League’s finest circuit.

But there were some decent heats and quick times as Wolves, with Fredrik Lindgren again reeling off the big wins, took all three points for the 11th successive home match.

Mind you, it wasn’t all plain sailing. Wolves led by 14 points as early as heat six and as late as heat 11, only for the resilient Eagles to fray their nerves as of old.

Davey Watt and Simon Gustafsson were unbeaten in their last three outings and, had Lewis Bridger shown anything like his customary Monmore form, then the outcome might have been somewhat different.

The luck of falls, retirements and exclusions spread itself more or less evenly between the teams, but you had to feel for Eastbourne in heat 10.

While Lindgren was away, Watt and double-point tactical rider Cameron Woodward were relegating Nicolai Klindt to the back.

Watt, having checked on his team-mate’s position, would surely have pulled over late in the race to allow Eastbourne the extra doubled point.

Alas for him, Klindt inadvertently buried his bike into the air fence and, despite his valiant attempt to clear the track, the race was awarded to give a rare 4-3 heat result.

Klindt had enjoyed better fortune four races earlier, riding an intelligent line to keep Gustafsson at bay and join skipper Peter Karlsson for a maximum 5-1.

Although the veteran’s flu ruled him out of the final heat, he dropped only one point in his four races to give top backing to Lindgren.

The younger Swede confessed after the meeting to not feeling entirely “on it.”

This after being paid for 14 points, driving round Woodward in heat one and skating smoothly past Bridger in the 13th race. Lindgren back “on it” will surely be quite something.

Elsewhere there was the customary grit from Ty Proctor and a somewhat flattering paid seven for Adam Skornicki, who has just lost a little edge after his splendid start to the season.

There was a brace of wins for Tai Woffinden, limbering up for next week’s World Cup duty with Great Britain, as well as a lightning lay-down when Lukas Dryml got into difficulties on the fourth bend. The Czech’s relief was apparent as he strode over to offer a grateful handshake.

Another to hit the shale – twice – was home reserve Hynek Stichauer. He may not be the most polished of riders, but his determination is winning over the crowd and he so nearly gave us an extraordinary heat seven.

The Czech showed startling speed to flash past Watt off the pits bend. Sadly, this Hynek manoeuvre was promptly choked off in the crowd’s throat as the rider tumbled on bend three.

Stichauer has yet to win a race at home. When he does, the noise will be roof-raising.