Wolves fail in Shield place bid

Wolverhampton trailed at the rear of the field as Eastbourne secured their place in the final of the Craven Shield by overhauling a seven-point deficit to edge out Ipswich in Saturday's final qualifying leg at Arlington.

Both Ipswich and the Parrys International Wolves were without several riders, but they still put up a good show in an entertaining meeting.

Wolves skipper Peter Karlsson and fellow Swede Fredrik Lindgren both won two races each, Coventry guest Rory Schlein also took the chequered flag, and Redcar stand-in Chris Kerr produced one of the rides of the night to win heat 18 from David Norris after Schlein had been penalised for a tapes offence.

The aggregate scores were Eastbourne 118, Ipswich 116 and Wolves 89.

Eastbourne 42: Nicki Pedersen 11, Adam Shields 10+1, David Norris 9, Dean Barker 6+1, Lewis Bridger 3+2, Cameron Woodward 3.

Ipswich 33: Chris Harris 10+1, Mark Loram 8, Joonas Kylmakorpi 7, Robert Miskowiak 4, Carl Wilkinson 2+2, Kim Jansson 2.

Wolverhampton 33: Fredrik Lindgren 10, Peter Karlsson 8, Rory Schlein 8, Chris Kerr 4+1, Ronnie Correy 2, Paul Clews 1+1.

There is no meeting at Monmore Green tonight as Wolves don't want to run against the second leg of the televised Elite League play-off final between Peterborough and Reading at the East of England Showground. Reading lead 49-47 from the first leg.

l Stoke Spitfires were beaten 39-32 at home by local rivals Buxton in the Conference Trophy yesterday. Barrie Evans and Ben Barker scored nine points apiece for the Loomer Road men but the meeting - abandoned after heat 12 - was marred by Sam Dore suffering a suspected broken collarbone after falling in heat two.

By Mike Berry

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