Wolves 45 Poole 44

The Harry Houdinis of speedway did it again with an extraordinary win over Elite League leaders Poole.

Last week, with star man Freddie Lindgren crashing out in heat one, Wolves pulled together to record a four-point success against Lakeside.

This time, Peter Karlsson rode despite injury and played a crucial role in helping the Parrys International Wolves to squeak home by a solitary point.

Guest Niels-Kristian Iversen played his part with a solid paid 11 and Ty Proctor enjoyed a second successive productive Monmore meeting.

But the Pirates, with 11 of the 15 race winners and with Darcy Ward untouchable in his five rides, missed their chance.

Wolves got their break with a brace of disqualifications for Poole No 1 Chris Holder. The first came in heat 11 when the Aussie lost control and took Karlsson’s wheel. There was no malice, but out he went.

The drama wasn’t over as Tyson Burmeister, in his final ride for Wolves this season, lost his third place by binning his bike into the pits turn air fence in the rerun.

Referee Graham Flint had to stop the race and disqualify the American – who failed to realise, extricated his machine and set off to push it home for the point. He got as far as the next corner before finding out.

A Davey Watt and Jason Doyle 5-1 for Poole in the 12th put them ahead but Holder then fell on the first corner in the next race.

The battered Karlsson suffering further pain by laying down his machine – and the Pirate’s disqualification left Ward going solo in the re-run.

Ward won it at a canter and Wolves had every reason to fear a repeat in the final heat.

So they had to make their stand in the penultimate race when the visitors’ Renat Gafurov made an unwitting bid to be Wolves’ man of the match.

First his line out of the first turn baulked Doyle, allowing Ludvig Lindgren to go clear. On the last turn, Gafurov left a hole down the inside which Tai Woffinden filled to give his side a point advantage for the decider.

Ward finished in style with a heat 15 win but Iversen and Karlsson relegated Watt to the back as Wolves took the victory.

By Tim Hamblin