Post by Pieman on Sept 20, 2005 21:20:01 GMT
OXFORD 48 WOLVES 42, CRAVEN SHIELD FIRST ROUND, MONDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER
Silver Machine:
Greg Hancock 3 2 3 2 2 =12
Henka Gustafsson 0 1* 1 =2+1
Freddie Eriksson 1* 0 1* 2* =4+3
Billy Hamill 3 2 2 3 1* =11+1
Niels-Kristian Iversen 3 1 3 1* =8+1
Travis McGowan 1 0 3 2* 3 1 =10+1
Craig Branney 0 1 0 =1
Parry’s International Wolves:
Peter Karlsson 1* 3 1 3 3 =11+1
Magnus Karlsson 2 1 2 0 =5
Steve Johnston 2 2* 1* 0 =5+2
Fredrik Lindgren 0 3 2 2 0 =7
David Howe 2 3 3 F =8
Ronnie Correy 2* 0 0 1 =3+1
Krzysztof Pecyna 3 0 F 0 =3
Once again, Wolves established themselves as the “nearly” team of 2005 by throwing away a six-point lead in the second half of this Craven Shield qualifier. Although PK was a good choice of guest, the slight shortcomings that have dogged the team all season were evident once again. Krys and David were good when they gated, while Magnus put in his usual top effort, in front of what must surely be one of the smallest crowds ever seen at Elite League level.
Oxford won the toss and took gates one and three – sadly their hopes of the meeting being decided on this were unfulfilled.
Heat 1: Hancock, M. Karlsson, P. Karlsson, Gustafsson, 59.8. 3-3, 3-3.
Magnus gated well, but Hancock led all the way.
Heat 2: Pecyna, Correy, McGowan, Branney, 60.3. 1-5, 4-8.
The Wolves gated and stayed close for all four laps for an unexpected 5-1.
Heat 3: Hamill, Johnston, Eriksson, Lindgren, 59.6. 4-2, 8-10.
Some slight contact on the first turn sent Freddie to the back where he scrapped with Eriksson for the first two laps, the home man taking third in the Battle of the Freds.
Heat 4: Iversen, Howe, Branney, Pecyna, 60.1. 4-2, 12-12.
Branney surprised many by passing Krys on the first lap and holding it until the end, while David tracked Puk all the way, with a last bend attack just failing.
Heat 5: P. Karlsson, Hamill, M. Karlsson, Eriksson, 59.4. 2-4, 14-16.
The Wolves made the start once again, but Magnus slipped to the back, staying neck and neck with Eriksson all the way only to lose out.
Heat 6: Howe, Hancock, Gustafsson, Correy, 59.3. 3-3, 17-19.
From the gate, with Ronnie recovering from an early lock-up to close in at the end.
Heat 7: Lindgren, Johnston, Iversen, McGowan, 60.1. 1-5, 18-24.
The tapes were held for a long time, and it worked in Wolves’ favour as they led all the way to go six points in front.
Heat 8: McGowan, M. Karlsson, Gustafsson, Pecyna (fell), 60.5. 4-2, 22-26.
Wolves made the start again, but Krys held the inside with Magnus on the outside down the back straight for the first time. It was never going to work, and at turn three Krys could not hold the tight line, and had to slide off to avoid taking out Magnus. This delayed the Swede although he somehow held his lead, but the inconsistent McGowan got past him to win.
Heat 9 (re-run): Howe, Hamill, Eriksson, Correy, 60.1. 3-3, 25-29.
Ronnie and Eriksson made contact on the first turn and the Swede went into the air fence for the night’s only stoppage. Eriksson was OK, and the rerun saw Ronnie shut out on turn two as David led all the way to defeat the second of the H-bombs, despite Hamill blasting around the boards in spectacular fashion.
Heat 10: Hancock, Lindgren, Johnston, Branney, 60.9. 3-3, 28-32.
Freddie put Hancock wide on the first turn for the lead, and held on until clipping the air fence at the end of lap two allowing Hancock to win. Johno, meanwhile, hit a new low by being headed by Conference League rider Branney for three laps.
Heat 11: Iversen, McGowan, P. Karlsson, M. Karlsson, 60.7. 5-1, 33-33.
The good run stopped here as Oxford led all the way, despite pressure from PK late on.
Heat 12: McGowan, Eriksson, Correy, Johnston, 60.1. 5-1, 38-34.
From the gate, with the Wolves falling behind for the first time.
Heat 13: P. Karlsson, Hancock, Iversen, Howe (fell), 60.4. 3-3, 41-37.
Hancock put David out wide into what grip was left, but David got too much drive and lifted, falling in order to avoid hitting the fence. PK led all the way.
Heat 14: Hamill, Lindgren, McGowan, Pecyna, 60.3. 4-2, 45-39.
Hamill rounded Freddie on the first turn to lead, and with McGowan in third the Wolves had lost away once again.
Heat 15: P. Karlsson, Hamill, Hancock, Lindgren, 60.0. 3-3, 48-42.
From the gate.
Five Star Ratings:
Weather: **** Dry and fairly warm.
Track conditions: ** Someone stole all the shale halfway through.
Attendance: * JFB counted 403 in the whole stadium – very poor.
Wolves’ performance: *** What we have come to expect away from home in 2005.
Entertainment value: * Very few passing moves all night.
Man of the Match: For consistent, fast gating it goes to David Howe.
Referee (Robbie Perks): ***** No decisions to make.
Rider Ratings:
Peter Karlsson: **** Hit his best form late on.
Magnus Karlsson: *** His usual maximum effort.
Steve Johnston: ** If he only ever had two programmed rides, it would be much easier for him.
Fredrik Lindgren: *** Seemed to be feeling the effects of the botched World Under-21 final.
David Howe: **** Consistently fast all night.
Ronnie Correy: ** One good race.
Krzysztof Pecyna: *** Did his bit in heat two, and was fast out of the starts as usual.
Will the current Wolves line-up ever pull off another away win? If they can get their heads together on Thursday at Blunsdon it may happen – it may depend on which Johno turns up! Let’s hope for a better crowd this time as well.
Once a Wolf, always a Wolf
Dave Goddard a.k.a. Pieman.
Silver Machine:
Greg Hancock 3 2 3 2 2 =12
Henka Gustafsson 0 1* 1 =2+1
Freddie Eriksson 1* 0 1* 2* =4+3
Billy Hamill 3 2 2 3 1* =11+1
Niels-Kristian Iversen 3 1 3 1* =8+1
Travis McGowan 1 0 3 2* 3 1 =10+1
Craig Branney 0 1 0 =1
Parry’s International Wolves:
Peter Karlsson 1* 3 1 3 3 =11+1
Magnus Karlsson 2 1 2 0 =5
Steve Johnston 2 2* 1* 0 =5+2
Fredrik Lindgren 0 3 2 2 0 =7
David Howe 2 3 3 F =8
Ronnie Correy 2* 0 0 1 =3+1
Krzysztof Pecyna 3 0 F 0 =3
Once again, Wolves established themselves as the “nearly” team of 2005 by throwing away a six-point lead in the second half of this Craven Shield qualifier. Although PK was a good choice of guest, the slight shortcomings that have dogged the team all season were evident once again. Krys and David were good when they gated, while Magnus put in his usual top effort, in front of what must surely be one of the smallest crowds ever seen at Elite League level.
Oxford won the toss and took gates one and three – sadly their hopes of the meeting being decided on this were unfulfilled.
Heat 1: Hancock, M. Karlsson, P. Karlsson, Gustafsson, 59.8. 3-3, 3-3.
Magnus gated well, but Hancock led all the way.
Heat 2: Pecyna, Correy, McGowan, Branney, 60.3. 1-5, 4-8.
The Wolves gated and stayed close for all four laps for an unexpected 5-1.
Heat 3: Hamill, Johnston, Eriksson, Lindgren, 59.6. 4-2, 8-10.
Some slight contact on the first turn sent Freddie to the back where he scrapped with Eriksson for the first two laps, the home man taking third in the Battle of the Freds.
Heat 4: Iversen, Howe, Branney, Pecyna, 60.1. 4-2, 12-12.
Branney surprised many by passing Krys on the first lap and holding it until the end, while David tracked Puk all the way, with a last bend attack just failing.
Heat 5: P. Karlsson, Hamill, M. Karlsson, Eriksson, 59.4. 2-4, 14-16.
The Wolves made the start once again, but Magnus slipped to the back, staying neck and neck with Eriksson all the way only to lose out.
Heat 6: Howe, Hancock, Gustafsson, Correy, 59.3. 3-3, 17-19.
From the gate, with Ronnie recovering from an early lock-up to close in at the end.
Heat 7: Lindgren, Johnston, Iversen, McGowan, 60.1. 1-5, 18-24.
The tapes were held for a long time, and it worked in Wolves’ favour as they led all the way to go six points in front.
Heat 8: McGowan, M. Karlsson, Gustafsson, Pecyna (fell), 60.5. 4-2, 22-26.
Wolves made the start again, but Krys held the inside with Magnus on the outside down the back straight for the first time. It was never going to work, and at turn three Krys could not hold the tight line, and had to slide off to avoid taking out Magnus. This delayed the Swede although he somehow held his lead, but the inconsistent McGowan got past him to win.
Heat 9 (re-run): Howe, Hamill, Eriksson, Correy, 60.1. 3-3, 25-29.
Ronnie and Eriksson made contact on the first turn and the Swede went into the air fence for the night’s only stoppage. Eriksson was OK, and the rerun saw Ronnie shut out on turn two as David led all the way to defeat the second of the H-bombs, despite Hamill blasting around the boards in spectacular fashion.
Heat 10: Hancock, Lindgren, Johnston, Branney, 60.9. 3-3, 28-32.
Freddie put Hancock wide on the first turn for the lead, and held on until clipping the air fence at the end of lap two allowing Hancock to win. Johno, meanwhile, hit a new low by being headed by Conference League rider Branney for three laps.
Heat 11: Iversen, McGowan, P. Karlsson, M. Karlsson, 60.7. 5-1, 33-33.
The good run stopped here as Oxford led all the way, despite pressure from PK late on.
Heat 12: McGowan, Eriksson, Correy, Johnston, 60.1. 5-1, 38-34.
From the gate, with the Wolves falling behind for the first time.
Heat 13: P. Karlsson, Hancock, Iversen, Howe (fell), 60.4. 3-3, 41-37.
Hancock put David out wide into what grip was left, but David got too much drive and lifted, falling in order to avoid hitting the fence. PK led all the way.
Heat 14: Hamill, Lindgren, McGowan, Pecyna, 60.3. 4-2, 45-39.
Hamill rounded Freddie on the first turn to lead, and with McGowan in third the Wolves had lost away once again.
Heat 15: P. Karlsson, Hamill, Hancock, Lindgren, 60.0. 3-3, 48-42.
From the gate.
Five Star Ratings:
Weather: **** Dry and fairly warm.
Track conditions: ** Someone stole all the shale halfway through.
Attendance: * JFB counted 403 in the whole stadium – very poor.
Wolves’ performance: *** What we have come to expect away from home in 2005.
Entertainment value: * Very few passing moves all night.
Man of the Match: For consistent, fast gating it goes to David Howe.
Referee (Robbie Perks): ***** No decisions to make.
Rider Ratings:
Peter Karlsson: **** Hit his best form late on.
Magnus Karlsson: *** His usual maximum effort.
Steve Johnston: ** If he only ever had two programmed rides, it would be much easier for him.
Fredrik Lindgren: *** Seemed to be feeling the effects of the botched World Under-21 final.
David Howe: **** Consistently fast all night.
Ronnie Correy: ** One good race.
Krzysztof Pecyna: *** Did his bit in heat two, and was fast out of the starts as usual.
Will the current Wolves line-up ever pull off another away win? If they can get their heads together on Thursday at Blunsdon it may happen – it may depend on which Johno turns up! Let’s hope for a better crowd this time as well.
Once a Wolf, always a Wolf
Dave Goddard a.k.a. Pieman.
