Post by Pieman on Aug 29, 2006 16:52:06 GMT
EASTBOURNE 45 WOLVES 45, ELITE LEAGUE B, FRIDAY 25TH AUGUST
Eagles:
Adam Shields 1* 1 3 0 =5+1
Edward Kennett 2 2* R 0 =4+1
Dean Barker 3 2 1* 3 1 =10+1
David Norris 2* 1* 2 1* =6+3
Mark Loram 3 2 3 1 0 =9
Cameron Woodward 3 0 0 =3
Lewis Bridger 2* 0 2 2* 2 =8+2
Parry’s International Wolves:
Peter Karlsson 3 3 2 3 3 =14
Christian Hefenbrock (0) (0) (3) (1*) =(4+1)
Ronnie Correy 0 F 1 1 0 =2
Billy Hamill 1 3 3 2 3 =12
Fredrik Lindgren 2 3 3 2* 2* =12+2
Ben Wilson 0 0 0 0 =0
Magnus Karlsson 1 1* 1 1* 1 0 =5+2
Wolves win 92-88 on aggregate.
First Reading, and now this! A superb speedway meeting ended with perhaps the fairest result, with both teams giving their all in every single heat. Wolves may have been tantalisingly close to an away win, but given the fact that they were eight points down with three heats to go, the draw was quite impressive – as was the aggregate win in the very last heat!
This was certainly a “top end” match, with Billy, Freddie and PK performing at their best to lead the side home. Christian would most likely have scored more than the paid five his rider replacement rides accumulated, while Ronnie looked somewhat off the pace.
Eastbourne won the toss and took gates one and three.
Heat 1: P Karlsson, Kennett, Shields, Wilson, 56.5. 3-3, 3-3.
From the gate, with PK taking a clear win as Ben struggled slightly.
Heat 2 (rerun): Woodward, Bridger, M Karlsson, Wilson, 57.6. 5-1, 8-4.
Woodward moved off early at the first start and the race was called back, while on the restart Ben clipped the Aussie leaving the start and went down for a stoppage – unfortunately after Magnus had gated. At the third attempt Woodward led all the way, while Magnus and Bridger had a great scrap for second, the Eastbourne young gun just edging it.
Heat 3: Barker, Norris, Hamill, Correy, 57.0. 5-1, 13-5.
Billy made a good gate and fought with Doris for second place behind Barker, the Eagle eventually taking Billy wide for second on the last lap. Ronnie was very close behind them too.
Heat 4: Loram, Lindgren, M Karlsson, Bridger, 57.2. 3-3, 16-8.
Bridger was hampered by bike trouble in this one, leaving the Wolves to chase home Eagles guest Loram.
Heat 5: P Karlsson, Barker, Norris, Correy (fell), 57.3. 3-3, 19-11.
Ronnie did well to hold Barker at the back for the first part of this one, but down he came on lap three to undo his good work. PK sped to his second win.
Heat 6: Lindgren, Kennett, Shields, Wilson, 57.7. 3-3, 22-14.
Freddie’s bike played up on the way to the tapes, and he emerged on Billy’s machine having only just beaten the two minute allowance. Billy clearly had his set-up right for Arlington, as Freddie flew off into the lead and brilliantly held off both Eagles for a great win! Ben was sadly off the pace – Arlington is certainly not one of his favourite tracks.
Heat 7: Hamill, Loram, Correy, Woodward, 57.2. 2-4, 24-18.
Billy did indeed have his machine set up perfectly, as he squeezed down the outside of Loram on the first lap and went on to win. Ronnie had a good scrap with Woodward for third, with the Aussie’s machine giving up on the last bend.
Heat 8 (rerun): Hamill, Bridger, M Karlsson, Kennett (ret), 57.5 2-4, 26-22.
After a rerun for an unsatisfactory start, Billy led all the way once again, while Kennett pulled out on lap three. Magnus got round for third despite bike problems.
Heat 9: Lindgren, Norris, Barker, Wilson, 56.7. 3-3, 29-25.
Freddie shot away from the tapes for Wolves’ sixth win in nine heats – yet they were still four points down! It is also worth noting that Freddie’s time was nearly a second faster than the previous heat and also the fastest since heat one – work that one out!
Heat 10: Shields, Hamill, Correy, Kennett, 57.2. 3-3, 32-28
Shields scraped the boards as he squeezed round Billy on the back straight, while Kennett slowed on the back straight allowing Ronnie a safe third.
Heat 11: Loram, P Karlsson, M Karlsson, Woodward, 57.1. 3-3, 35-31.
PK tried the inside line on the first lap but Loram inflicted the Wolves number one’s first defeat of the night. Magnus rounded Woodward for third on the first lap, and we were still four points behind.
Heat 12: Barker, Bridger, M Karlsson, Correy, 58.3. 5-1, 40-32.
Oops! Eastbourne led from the gate, and Wolves’ situation looked bleaker.
Heat 13: P Karlsson, Lindgren, Loram, Shields, 57.0. 1-5, 41-37.
PK and Freddie to the rescue as they came out on top in a very close race, all four riders giving it their all.
Heat 14: Hamill, Bridger, Norris, M Karlsson, 57.5 3-3, 44-40.
Billy produced the move of the meeting to squeeze through an impossibly tiny gap between Eastbourne’s riders and the back straight fence on the first lap – going from third to first in the process! Magnus also held third but was elbowed wide by Doris on the last lap, a move that would prove crucial.
Heat 15 (rerun): P Karlsson, Lindgren, Barker, Loram, 57.4. 1-5, 45-45.
Wolves needed a 5-1 in this one to draw the match, and a 3-3 to secure a run-off for the bonus. Talk ran round the second bend terracing of past last-heat deciders such as this, and some were less than optimistic. Nerves were increased when the race was called back for an unsatisfactory start, but at the second attempt Wolves gated and led all the way to square the match on superb style, encouraged by a lot of noise from the Wolves fans present, and celebrated with donuts from PK – yes, really!
Comment/Summary:
Weather: Warm and dry.
Track: Good all night, leading to some very fast racing.
Attendance: Not a huge crowd overall, but a good turnout of Wolves fans.
Wolves Performance: Top three brilliant, rest not quite so good.
Entertainment: Close action in almost every race – great stuff.
Referee (Christina Turnbull): Very stringent on riders moving at the start, but other than that no decisions to make.
Man of the Match: It could have gone to any one of three, but it goes to Billy Hamill for his very fast riding, daring passes, and good machinery setup.
Rider Ratings:
Peter Karlsson: 9 Only defeated once.
Christian Hefenbrock: R/R
Ronnie Correy: 5 A bit below par.
Billy Hamill: 9 Top class racing all night.
Fredrik Lindgren: 9 Very fast with some good gating.
Ben Wilson: 4 Struggled on a track he finds difficult.
Magnus Karlsson: 6 Problems with his number one machine hindered him a bit.
This was my first visit to Arlington since our Championship year of 2002, and I was suitably impressed with the facilities, excellent and varied stadium food, track preparation and atmosphere. If only it didn’t take nearly five hours to get there!
Once a Wolf, always a Wolf
Dave Goddard a.k.a. Pieman.
Eagles:
Adam Shields 1* 1 3 0 =5+1
Edward Kennett 2 2* R 0 =4+1
Dean Barker 3 2 1* 3 1 =10+1
David Norris 2* 1* 2 1* =6+3
Mark Loram 3 2 3 1 0 =9
Cameron Woodward 3 0 0 =3
Lewis Bridger 2* 0 2 2* 2 =8+2
Parry’s International Wolves:
Peter Karlsson 3 3 2 3 3 =14
Christian Hefenbrock (0) (0) (3) (1*) =(4+1)
Ronnie Correy 0 F 1 1 0 =2
Billy Hamill 1 3 3 2 3 =12
Fredrik Lindgren 2 3 3 2* 2* =12+2
Ben Wilson 0 0 0 0 =0
Magnus Karlsson 1 1* 1 1* 1 0 =5+2
Wolves win 92-88 on aggregate.
First Reading, and now this! A superb speedway meeting ended with perhaps the fairest result, with both teams giving their all in every single heat. Wolves may have been tantalisingly close to an away win, but given the fact that they were eight points down with three heats to go, the draw was quite impressive – as was the aggregate win in the very last heat!
This was certainly a “top end” match, with Billy, Freddie and PK performing at their best to lead the side home. Christian would most likely have scored more than the paid five his rider replacement rides accumulated, while Ronnie looked somewhat off the pace.
Eastbourne won the toss and took gates one and three.
Heat 1: P Karlsson, Kennett, Shields, Wilson, 56.5. 3-3, 3-3.
From the gate, with PK taking a clear win as Ben struggled slightly.
Heat 2 (rerun): Woodward, Bridger, M Karlsson, Wilson, 57.6. 5-1, 8-4.
Woodward moved off early at the first start and the race was called back, while on the restart Ben clipped the Aussie leaving the start and went down for a stoppage – unfortunately after Magnus had gated. At the third attempt Woodward led all the way, while Magnus and Bridger had a great scrap for second, the Eastbourne young gun just edging it.
Heat 3: Barker, Norris, Hamill, Correy, 57.0. 5-1, 13-5.
Billy made a good gate and fought with Doris for second place behind Barker, the Eagle eventually taking Billy wide for second on the last lap. Ronnie was very close behind them too.
Heat 4: Loram, Lindgren, M Karlsson, Bridger, 57.2. 3-3, 16-8.
Bridger was hampered by bike trouble in this one, leaving the Wolves to chase home Eagles guest Loram.
Heat 5: P Karlsson, Barker, Norris, Correy (fell), 57.3. 3-3, 19-11.
Ronnie did well to hold Barker at the back for the first part of this one, but down he came on lap three to undo his good work. PK sped to his second win.
Heat 6: Lindgren, Kennett, Shields, Wilson, 57.7. 3-3, 22-14.
Freddie’s bike played up on the way to the tapes, and he emerged on Billy’s machine having only just beaten the two minute allowance. Billy clearly had his set-up right for Arlington, as Freddie flew off into the lead and brilliantly held off both Eagles for a great win! Ben was sadly off the pace – Arlington is certainly not one of his favourite tracks.
Heat 7: Hamill, Loram, Correy, Woodward, 57.2. 2-4, 24-18.
Billy did indeed have his machine set up perfectly, as he squeezed down the outside of Loram on the first lap and went on to win. Ronnie had a good scrap with Woodward for third, with the Aussie’s machine giving up on the last bend.
Heat 8 (rerun): Hamill, Bridger, M Karlsson, Kennett (ret), 57.5 2-4, 26-22.
After a rerun for an unsatisfactory start, Billy led all the way once again, while Kennett pulled out on lap three. Magnus got round for third despite bike problems.
Heat 9: Lindgren, Norris, Barker, Wilson, 56.7. 3-3, 29-25.
Freddie shot away from the tapes for Wolves’ sixth win in nine heats – yet they were still four points down! It is also worth noting that Freddie’s time was nearly a second faster than the previous heat and also the fastest since heat one – work that one out!
Heat 10: Shields, Hamill, Correy, Kennett, 57.2. 3-3, 32-28
Shields scraped the boards as he squeezed round Billy on the back straight, while Kennett slowed on the back straight allowing Ronnie a safe third.
Heat 11: Loram, P Karlsson, M Karlsson, Woodward, 57.1. 3-3, 35-31.
PK tried the inside line on the first lap but Loram inflicted the Wolves number one’s first defeat of the night. Magnus rounded Woodward for third on the first lap, and we were still four points behind.
Heat 12: Barker, Bridger, M Karlsson, Correy, 58.3. 5-1, 40-32.
Oops! Eastbourne led from the gate, and Wolves’ situation looked bleaker.
Heat 13: P Karlsson, Lindgren, Loram, Shields, 57.0. 1-5, 41-37.
PK and Freddie to the rescue as they came out on top in a very close race, all four riders giving it their all.
Heat 14: Hamill, Bridger, Norris, M Karlsson, 57.5 3-3, 44-40.
Billy produced the move of the meeting to squeeze through an impossibly tiny gap between Eastbourne’s riders and the back straight fence on the first lap – going from third to first in the process! Magnus also held third but was elbowed wide by Doris on the last lap, a move that would prove crucial.
Heat 15 (rerun): P Karlsson, Lindgren, Barker, Loram, 57.4. 1-5, 45-45.
Wolves needed a 5-1 in this one to draw the match, and a 3-3 to secure a run-off for the bonus. Talk ran round the second bend terracing of past last-heat deciders such as this, and some were less than optimistic. Nerves were increased when the race was called back for an unsatisfactory start, but at the second attempt Wolves gated and led all the way to square the match on superb style, encouraged by a lot of noise from the Wolves fans present, and celebrated with donuts from PK – yes, really!
Comment/Summary:
Weather: Warm and dry.
Track: Good all night, leading to some very fast racing.
Attendance: Not a huge crowd overall, but a good turnout of Wolves fans.
Wolves Performance: Top three brilliant, rest not quite so good.
Entertainment: Close action in almost every race – great stuff.
Referee (Christina Turnbull): Very stringent on riders moving at the start, but other than that no decisions to make.
Man of the Match: It could have gone to any one of three, but it goes to Billy Hamill for his very fast riding, daring passes, and good machinery setup.
Rider Ratings:
Peter Karlsson: 9 Only defeated once.
Christian Hefenbrock: R/R
Ronnie Correy: 5 A bit below par.
Billy Hamill: 9 Top class racing all night.
Fredrik Lindgren: 9 Very fast with some good gating.
Ben Wilson: 4 Struggled on a track he finds difficult.
Magnus Karlsson: 6 Problems with his number one machine hindered him a bit.
This was my first visit to Arlington since our Championship year of 2002, and I was suitably impressed with the facilities, excellent and varied stadium food, track preparation and atmosphere. If only it didn’t take nearly five hours to get there!
Once a Wolf, always a Wolf
Dave Goddard a.k.a. Pieman.
