WOLVERHAMPTON edged out neighbours Birmingham 48-44 to leave the Midland Shield nicely poised.

The Monmore men were the better all-round side with some encouraging displays from their younger riders including teenagers Ludvig Lindgren and Tai Woffinden.

Skipper Freddie Lindgren was the top man for the Parrys International Wolves with 9+1 in a meeting which provided plenty of entertaining racing.

Heat 12 was the race of the night. Birmingham’s Eddie Kennett charged between Wolves duo Lewis Bridger and Chris Kerr, only for Kerr to fall on the third lap and bring down James Birkinshaw.

Many fans were surprised the race wasn’t awarded, but delighted when they saw the four laps that followed. Kennett and Bridger diced wheel to wheel, exchanging passes for the full four laps, in a superb heat of speedway.

Jason Lyons’ second victory of the night over the elder Lindgren in heat 15, meant the BRC Roofing Brummies had actually outscored Wolves over the last 5 races 11-19, to set up an intriguing second leg at Perry Barr on a date to be confirmed next month.

WOLVERHAMPTON: Freddie Lindgren 9+1, Lewis Bridger 7+2, Tai Woffinden 7+1, Ludvig Lindgren 7, Nicolai Klindt 6+3, Morten Risager 6, Chris Kerr 6.

BIRMINGHAM: Davey Watt 13, Jason Lyons 12+1, Eddie Kennett 10, Craig Watson 4, Ben Wilson 4, James Birkinshaw 1, Tomasz Piszcz 0.