WOLVERHAMPTON launched their league campaign with a 46-44 home win over Swindon.

It was the tight tussle many anticipated for the Parrys International Wolves who were again without wrist injury victim Nick Morris for the visit of his former side.

But the Monmore men dug deep to hang on to victory in a last heat decider.

Winter signing Scott Nicholls was able to split the visitors' duo of Troy Batchelor and ex-Wolf Tobiasz Musielak in Heat 15 to ensure he also finished the night as the home side's top scorer.

Skipper Rory Schlein and American youngster Luke Becker both came up with a hat-trick of race wins each on their way to eleven points, and the latter impressed the home faithful on his full Monmore debut with a mixture of good gating and composed yet determmined passing maneuverers.

No.1 Sam Masters was forced to work hard for his points while Kyle Howarth came up with a couple of important charges under Swindon's Dawid Lampart to make a difference.

Even though local lad Ashley Morris demands more of himself than the 3+1 he managed, they were important points nevertheless in a fixture which got off to a far from ideal start when the visitors opened with a maximum following a tapes exclusion for Howarth.

No more than six points ever separated the two sides, but it was Wolves who hung on for three league points.

Team boss Peter Adams said: "This is an entertainment game as well and first and foremost everyone who was here tonight was treated to a thoroughly entertaining fixture.

"Of course the win is important for us though and we're pleased with the final result.

"It was never going to be easy as running rider replacement is often tough, but we just need to pick up as many points as we can in Nick's absence and tonight we picked up the maximum on offer to us."

Parrys International Wolves now prepare for their traditional Bank Holiday home and away fixtures to Belle Vue next Monday (April 22).

They travel to Manchester in the Premiership Supporters' Cup for a noon start before hosting the Aces back at Monmore later the same night (8pm).

WOLVERHAMPTON 46: Scott Nicholls 11+2, Luke Becker 11+1, Rory Schlein 11, Sam Masters 5+1, Kyle Howarth 5+1, Ashley Morris 3+1, Nick Morris R/R.

SWINDON 44: Troy Batchelor 14, Tobiasz Musielak 12, Jason Doyle 9+2, Adam Ellis 6+1, James Shanes 2+1, Zach Wajtknecht 1, Dawid Lampart 0.