Wolves v Oxford 20th September

[Pieman]

Report will appear here later as Sugababe decided not to write it after all, leaving me with a late night while I finish it.

Sorry for the delay!

[JJ]

you tease! lol

[Jasper]

Waiting patiently........tap tap tap.......................(I wonder if he will give Adam 5 stars she thinks silently to herself).......... tap tap tap..................

[Pieman]

WOLVES 61 OXFORD 33, ELITE LEAGUE PLAYOFF QUARTER FINAL, MONDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER

Parry’s International Wolves:

Mikael Max 3 3 3 3 3 =15
Fredrik Lindgren 2* 0 2* 1* R =5+3
Sam Ermolenko 3 3 2* 2 3 2* =15+2
Daniel Nermark (0) (1) (3) (3) =(7)
David Howe 3 3 3 R =9
Adam Skornicki 3 1 N 3 2* =9+1
Chris Neath 2* 1 2* 2 1* fx =8+3

Silver Machine:

Sebastian Ulamek (1) (4) (R) (1*) =(6+1)
Travis McGowan 0 0 0 1 1* =2+1
Rafal Dobrucki 2 4 fx 2 0 0 =8
Ryan Fisher 1 1* fx 1* 2 =5+2
Josh Larsen 0 1 1 2 =4
Jonas Davidsson 1 0 0 =1
Niels-Kristian Iversen X 2 6 R 3 1* 1 =13+1

If last week’s performance against Peterborough was a big win, then this was an absolute demolition job as Wolves moved into the playoff semis. The news before the meeting fluctuated dramatically, with the first good news for Wolves being the absence of Greg Hancock, and Josh Larsen did not look like the perfect replacement. The bad news followed as it was announced that Mikael and Adam’s flight from Denmark had been cancelled, and the only available alternative was a flight which arrived in Birmingham at 6:15pm – hardly ideal preparation! It looked like a depleted Wolves side would begin the match, but thanks to an incredible dash across the city, the riders made it to the stadium just in time for the match.
When the team got out on track, it proved to be an easy win, with Chris Neath covering well for the injured Simon Stead, and David Howe positively flying. A crash for Adam Skornicki looked bad at first, but the plucky Pole recovered to ride on in a true fighting performance by all six riders.

Heat 1: Max, Lindgren, Fisher, McGowan, 58.29. 5-1, 5-1.

Mikael led all the way, while Fishface took Freddie for second ending lap one, but Freddie set the tone for the night by retaking the American on the back straight.

Heat 2 (awarded): Skornicki, Neath, Davidsson, Iversen (excl). 5-1, 10-2.

Wolves led until the start of the last lap, when Puk dived under Chris sending him under the turn two airfence, with Puk also falling. The race was rightfully awarded as another 5-1.

Heat 3: Ermolenko, Dobrucki, Fisher, Lindgren,57.57. 3-3, 13-5.

From the gate, with Freddie slowed by a mechanical problem.

Heat 4: Howe, Iversen, Neath, Larsen, 57.71. 4-2, 17-7.

Chris went inside Larsen on the first lap for third, with Larsen almost losing it on the third lap as Chris tracked Puk. A last-bend inside run just failed to beat the Dane for second.

Heat 5: Ermolenko, Dobrucki (double), Skornicki, McGowan, 58.46. 4-4, 21-11.

Nigel Wagstaff brought out the black and white helmet at the earliest opportunity, and Dobrucki was right up behind the fast-starting Sam from turn two. Adam was slow away but produced a stunning ride to take Travis ending lap three, then try the same move as Chris in the previous heat on Dobrucki, but just fail to beat him.

Heat 6 (re-run): Max, Lindgren, Larsen, Davidsson, 57.96. 5-1, 26-12.

Davidsson moved off early and a rerun was called. This saw the Wolves gate, with Larsen running side by side with Freddie for the first three laps, before Freddie magnificently pulled ahead – what leg injury?

Heat 7 (re-run, awarded): Howe, Neath, Dobrucki (f.excl), Skornicki (f.ns), Fisher (f.excl). 5-0, 31-12.

Oxford gated in the first attempt, with Fishface moving David wide on the first turn before the former fell on turn one. Adam went straight on to avoid the stricken rider, but ploughed into the fence and stayed down. Everyone feared the worst, but thankfully Adam was soon on his feet, albeit suffering from a bruised wrist. When Chris came out in place of him for the rerun, it looked as if Adam’s night was over. The restart saw Dobrucki chase David for the lead until falling on lap two. The Pole then picked his bike up and sat on the track adjusting it, before riding off as the red lights came on! The race was rightly awarded as a 5-0 to Wolves.

Heat 8: Iversen (double), Neath, Lindgren, McGowan, 59.44. 3-6, 34-18.

This was a race of two halves, with Chris trying round the inside of Puk for the lead, and Freddie holding out Travis at the back. Travis almost caught Freddie on the final lap, but the young gun held on well. Puk took the big six and Oxford’s first (and only) heat advantage.

Heat 9: Skornicki, Ermolenko, Larsen, Davidsson, 59.53. 5-1, 39-19.

There were cheers when Adam was announced as Daniel’s replacement, and even bigger cheers when he and Sam swept in front down the back straight after Larsen ran wide, taking an excellent 5-1.

Heat 10: Max, Dobrucki, Fisher, Freddie (ret), 59.67. 3-3, 42-22.

Freddie gated second but sadly suffered engine trouble after half a lap and retired. Mikael kept in front for the win, and the victory was ours.

Heat 11: Howe, Skornicki, McGowan, Iversen (ret), 59.32. 5-1, 47-23.

From the gate, with Puk pulling off on the first lap.

Heat 12: Iversen, Ermolenko, Neath, Dobrucki, 59.93. 3-3, 50-26.

Sam went inside Dobrucki for second on the back straight, before taking Puk for the lead on turn four. The Dane came back inside Sam on the back straight for the lead as Chris took Dobrucki for third, with Puk going on for the win and dashing Sam’s hopes of a maximum.

Heat 13: Max, Larsen, McGowan, Howe (ret), 59.07. 3-3, 53-29.

The Wolves led once again, with Larsen fighting inside David on lap two for second. David tried the inside line for the place, but suffered engine failure on the last lap and lost his maximum. Mikael, meantime, kept his.

Heat 14: Ermolenko, Fisher, Iversen, Neath (f.excl), 60.05. 3-3, 56-32.

Chris fell on turn one after an apparent hit from Fishface (as the TV replays showed) but Chris was excluded. Sam led all the way in the rerun.

Heat 15: Max, Ermolenko, Iversen, Dobrucki, 59.29. 5-1, 61-33.

Puk gated but Mikael was quickly down the inside of him, with Sam also getting by on lap two, and the target of 60 was reached.

Five Star Ratings:

Weather: *** Cold and spitting with rain.
Track Conditions: ***** Very consistent, but dried a little towards the end.
Attendance: **** A mink of a crowd.
Wolves Performance: ***** All six riders in flying form all the way.
Entertainment value: *** Some races were quite processional as Oxford began to lose interest.
Man of the Match: See separate poll on main forum.
Referee (Ronnie Allan): **** Unusually quiet for Ronnie, but heat 14 should certainly have been all four back.

Rider ratings:

After plenty of thought, I have decided to award every rider five stars for one of the finest team performances of the season – well done all six of you.

Well done to the Wolves – now bring on the Witches!

See you at the Green
Pieman.

(PS: Don’t forget to vote for the Man of the Match on the main section of the forum!)

[Lawt]

Great report Pieman, thanks.

But he's determined to make it hard for me to keep the Riders' Star Chart neat and tidy isn't he? Last week we had two 'men of the match' , a few weeks ago he gave out half points for someone, and now they all get five stars and there's no man of the match .

Only joking, but when is the cut off point when we can determine who has got the MOM award this week?

Also, the five stars for everyone actually moved Freddie up to the top of the ranking in the chart, but only by one hundredth of a point

[Pieman]

Voting for Man of the Match is open until 5pm Thursday.

[JJ]

great report mate and sorry it had to be sam for me lol although the guys all of them done well, but what was expected against a lackluster oxford.
P.s well extra special well done to chris and david keep it up guys.