WOLVES started the day with a hugely impressive 49-41 win in Manchester – their sixth victory on the road this season.

Ryan Douglas starred at reserve with a 15-point haul and his sensational effort to hold off Dan Bewley in Heat 15 secured maximum league points for the visitors.

The meeting was effectively won and lost during a blistering opening for Wolves, who went ten points up after only four races.

Sam Masters and Broc Nicol outpaced Bewley in Heat 1, Douglas and Luke Becker won the next two races, and then a thrilling Heat 4 saw skipper Rory Schlein re-pass Brady Kurtz on the last lap with Leon Flint repeating the move on Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen.

Bewley quickly recovered his form and helped the Aces cut the gap to six when he took a tactical substitute ride in Heat 7 and collected a 5-1 with Kurtz.

But Wolves hit straight back with their own maximum in the next as Flint came up with a big ride whilst Nicol inherited second spot when Tom Brennan ground to a halt.

Wolves then defended well as the home side began to provide race winners, and they still led by six after a tremendous Heat 13 battle when Masters split Bewley and Kurtz.

Douglas and Becker secured victory in the penultimate race despite a good ride to win by home man Charles Wright, before Douglas made sure of all four league points with his last-heat victory.

BELLE VUE 41: Dan Bewley 15, Charles Wright 10, Brady Kurtz 8+1, Tom Brennan 4+1, Steve Worrall 3+1, Jye Etheridge 1, Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen 0.
WOLVERHAMPTON 49: Ryan Douglas 15, Sam Masters 11, Luke Becker 7+1, Broc Nicol 5+3, Rory Schlein 5+2, Leon Flint 5, Richard Lawson 1.

Picture: IAN CHARLES