What proved to be an incident filled clash the 2022 MSDL season opened with reigning champions Birmingham DUCTAIR Bulls defeating local rivals Wolverhampton PARRY'S INTERNATIONAL Wolf Cubs in a closely contested clash 18-14.
Both sides were dealt pre-meeting blows missing a rider each . Wolf Cubs Luke Killeen was ruled out awaiting his British passport whilst the Bulls had to ride without teenager Freddy Hodder as his father was unavailable to drive him due to a work commitment. So both sides operated rider-replacement sharing the rides with the remaining three team members.
The Bulls were sitting on a maximum 5-1 heat win in heat 1 but for Arran Butcher to fall on a greasy surface with light rain affecting it in heat 1.
Then heat two saw three riders crash coming out of bend one with all four reinstated into the re-run only for Arran Butcher to fall alongside two others and gain an exclusion and a visit to the ambulance whilst home No. 1 Sam Woolley hurting his knee in the two incidents and withdrawing from the meeting .
This meant both sides were down to two riders each with the team managers juggling their resources.
Jacob Fellows fell in heat 3 hurting his hand and thumb missing his next ride but coming back to vitally win heat 6 to secure his side victory.
His cousin Bailey Fellows though rode superbly to notch a 12 point maximum from his four rides. For the Wolf Cubs Jamie Sealey was consistent despite bike problems with four second places whilst the fast starting Ben Phillips included a fall in his paid 5 return.
WOLVERHAMPTON PARRY'S INTERNATIONAL WOLF CUBS 14 (Jamie Sealey 4r 8, Ben Phillips4r 4+1, Sam Woolley 1r 2, Luke Killeen R/R)
