Rory Schlein stars for Wolverhampton Wolves in Poole draw

Schlein battled through the pain barrier after suffering a serious cut to his hand in a first bend spill in heat four and led by example with a captain’s display, writes Rich Jones.

But he could not quite get his side over the line, with a 4-2 heat advantage for the hosts in a tense last-heat decider preventing a first away win of the campaign for the Parrys International Wolves.

Schlein dusted himself down from his crash to win the re-run of heat four alongside Ashley Morris, moving Wolves six points clear with a second successive 5-1.

A dominant heat six success maintained that advantage – and a stunning last-bend dive from Sam Masters to pass Richie Worrall in heat seven moved the visitors eight clear.

Yet they were pegged back, with tactical substitute Brady Kurtz and Josh Grajczonek shutting out Schlein in heat nine as the hosts edged two ahead after the interval.

A spectacular crash for Pirates’ reserve Stefan Nielsen handed Wolves a lifeline, which young gun Nathan Greaves took with both hands in heat 12 to move them level.

Schlein stepped up to the plate with a remarkable ride to snatch victory from Kurtz by a matter of inches in heat 13.

But Kurtz stormed clear in the final race and, with Schlein unable to overhaul Linus Sundstrom for third place, there was no separating the sides at the end of the action.

Despite a hint of understandable frustration for Wolves after letting a handy lead slip, it was nonetheless another step in the right direction to claim a potentially vital two SGB Premiership points.

Schlein and Masters played starring roles, whilst Kyle Howarth put in a useful display with seven points.

Reserve duo Greaves and Morris both contributed with some vital points, but No.1 Jacob Thorssell had another night to forget on the road.

He got off to a perfect start with a heat one win yet made a costly mistake when battling with Worrall for the lead in his final ride.

Wolves are back in action in Monday’s return at Monmore (8pm).