WOLVERHAMPTON opened a sizeable 13-point lead at the top of the Premiership by with a superb Bank Holiday win double over Belle Vue.

Parrys International Wolves defeated the Aces 49-41 in both of Monday's meetings, and it means Peterborough are now the only team who can deny them league leadership ahead of the play-offs.

The Panthers do have four matches in hand and their visit to Monmore in mid-September could prove vital "“ but Wolves are undoubtedly favourites at this stage.

They had to fight back from an early deficit at home with the Aces looking set for a 5-1 in Heat 1 until Sam Masters slipped inside Jye Etheridge off the final bend.

Reserve Leon Flint crashed heavily coming out of the second bend in Heat 2, but Ryan Douglas won the re-run and the home side quickly got into their stride.

American stars Luke Becker and Broc Nicol put them ahead for the first time with maximum points in Heat 3 as they saw off an early challenge from Steve Worrall, and it didn't take long for the lead to be extended.

Becker took the scalp of Dan Bewley in Heat 5 although the brilliant British youngster did pass Douglas for second place, and Wolves went eight points up with good team-riding from Douglas and skipper Rory Schlein against Worrall and Charles Wright in Heat 7.

Flint thankfully emerged from another hefty spill in Heat 8 when he was fetched off by Etheridge at the start of the last lap, and Wolves maintained their advantage even with Bewley taking an extra ride "“ as the Aces' No.1 ran a surprise last as a tactical substitute whilst team-mate Wright won Heat 10.

There was another scare for Wolves when Douglas was brought down by Worrall on the last bend of Heat 12, but the Australian walked away after treatment.

The home side secured victory in the next race when Masters raced clear of Bewley, before Becker superbly passed Wright in Heat 14 "“ and a 5-1 consolation for the Aces in the last race couldn't spoil Wolves' day.

Becker said: "It definitely couldn't have gone any better way, having two meetings in one day and coming away with two wins, we can't complain.

"We've been doing awesome at home this year so far, but we don't want to get ahead of ourselves and we've just got to keep our foot on the gas.

"Everybody's already said it, but we have an awesome team spirit within the boys, and that can go a long way. Having that off the track is definitely something that you need to win, and if we can keep that going and keep our riding on the track going, we should be good to go."

WOLVERHAMPTON 49: Luke Becker 14+1, Rory Schlein 10, Sam Masters 9+1, Ryan Douglas 8+2, Broc Nicol 7+1, Leon Flint 1+1, Nick Morris r/r.
BELLE VUE 41: Dan Bewley 13, Brady Kurtz 10+1, Charles Wright 7, Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen 6+2, Tom Brennan 4, Jye Etheridge 1, Steve Worrall 0.