Wolverhampton Wolves secure a final shot at glory

They lost 53-37 on the night to go through 96-84 on aggregate, writes Tim Hamblin.

And while Wednesday’s agonising one-point loss to Swindon still hurts, they now have a fresh chance of a trophy when they face Belle Vue over two legs on Tuesday and Wednesday next week.

But club owner Chris Van Straaten, standing in as team boss with Peter Adams heading to Torun for the Grand Prix, didn’t pull his punches after watching his side produce only four heat winners on the night.

“It’s not a strong performance,” he said. “Probably one of the worst away performances I’ve seen from the Wolves team this year.

“I think there’s one or two heads still on the chest. We’ve got a few days now to get people pumped up now.”

In truth, many of the heavy blows of this semi-final tie had already been landed with the crushing 59-31 Monmore home win over Somerset in the first leg.

It gave the Parrys International Wolves 28 points in hand and effectively finished the tie.

But with the Aces looming at Monmore next Tuesday and at the National Speedway Stadium the following night, Wolves urgently needed to show they remain a force despite the continued injury absence of top-liners Freddie Lindgren and Jacob Thorssell.

They made the best possible start, guest Scott Nicholls and ex-Rebel Kyle Howarth on a 5-1 before Edward Kennett fell and duly repeating the dose in the rerun.

But that was the only time a Wolf was first to the flag in the opening seven heats, despite a startling heat three effort from Howarth who came through from the back and almost got himself in front while splitting Kennett and Charles Wright.

Somerset briefly threatened, six up on the night after heat four, but a succession of six drawn heats eased Wolves through.

The effervescent Howarth won the eighth race in splendid style, another former Rebel Sam Masters doing likewise in the ninth.

Wolves had it in the bag after heat 10, needing only to provide a finisher in the remaining races.