Wolves 55 - Ipswich 38IPSWICH slumped to a heavy defeat at the hands of a solid Wolverhampton side in the West Midlands last night. Only Chris Louis and Robert Miskowiak offered any resistance for the Witches as Wolves not only took victory on the night but secured the aggregate bonus point.

Wolves 55 - Ipswich 38

IPSWICH slumped to a heavy defeat at the hands of a solid Wolverhampton side in the West Midlands last night.

Only Chris Louis and Robert Miskowiak offered any resistance for the Witches as Wolves not only took victory on the night but secured the aggregate bonus point. With Jesper Jenson still sidelined with injury, and the Witches operating rider replacement, their resources were too stretched to counter a determined home side.

Wolves got the meeting off to the best possible start as far as they were concerned with maximum heat wins in the opening two races. Miskowiak secured Ipswich's first race win when he took the chequered flag in heat four, but with Wolves riders filling the minor places, Wolves retained a 10 point advantage.

Chris Louis went from third to first to take victory in the next race but again there was no support from the rest of the Witches line up, and Wolves again shared the heat. Louis was nominated for a double point tactical ride in heat seven, and produced a thrilling battle with former World Champion Billy Hamill. The pair exchanged passes on several occasions before Louis pulled away to take the victory but the disappointing Kroner was a long way back in fourth place and therefore the Witches only reduced the deficit by three points.

Wolves responded with maximum heat wins in Heats eight and ten to put the result beyond doubt but there was still plenty of entertainment to come in the last few races. Jansson was excluded from Heat 11 when having been passed by Lawson the Swede entered the third turn too fast, clipped the Scot and both riders took a heavy tumble but were fortunately able to walk away. In the re-run Miskowiak exchanged passes with Hamill, as Lawson took an impressive victory. Louis took the chequered flat in heat 12, and Rempala passed Grieves on the last lap to give the Witches only their second heat advantage of the night.

Wolves responded with a 5-1 in heat 13, as Hamill slowed as he approached the line to allow Peter Karlsson to take his fifth victory of the night.

Witches took a somewhat surprising maximum heat win from the final race. Louis had passed Peter Karlsson off the second bend when the Swede started to slow and drifted to the back. Miskowiak then managed to slip past Howe to put something of a gloss on a disappointing night for the Suffolk side.

Miskowiak was entertaining throughout and Chris Louis rolled back the years, but the Witches management will be looking at the performances of the supporting riders with a view to next season.