LEICESTER produced a valiant display to earn a consolation league point from their 47-43 derby defeat at Wolverhampton.
The Watling JCB Lions, who were without injured duo Danny King and Kyle Newman, found themselves eight points behind mid-meeting before three heat advantages in the space of four races clawed them back into contention.
And while the hosts wrapped up the win with a race to spare, Danish duo Kenneth Bjerre and Hans Andersen combined for a 4-2 in the final race for a well deserved league point.
Team boss Simon Stead said: “That was a tough meeting to read to be honest.
“People were taking points off each other unexpectedly and thankfully two of those occasions came when Krystian (Pieszczek) won back-to-back races part way through and I think that was the turning point for us.
“It’s hard to be disappointed when they’ve ridden so well as a group but we could’ve got even more out of the meeting if I’m being honest.
“But Wolves is a tough place to come to, not many teams leave with anything at all, so we’ll take the point and take the positives out of it.”
Lions scraped the heat wins tally 8-7 with Andersen and Bjerre claiming six of them on an impressive night for the experienced spearhead pairing.
Pieszczek took the other two after he soon got to grips with the tight Monmore Green circuit on another hugely encouraging night for the Pole after a tricky start.
Guest Charles Wright performed solidly with three second places to his name while Todd Kurtz was also much more in the mix than his five point return suggests.
Fellow reserve James Sarjeant endured a torrid night plagued by machinery problems and will be looking to put things right when Wolverhampton visit the Paul Chapman and Sons Arena next Monday (July 2, 7.30).
WOLVERHAMPTON 47: Sam Masters 15, Rory Schlein 9+2, Nathan Greaves 9+1, Jacob Thorssell 7, Cameron Heeps 5, Ashley Morris 2+1, Kyle Howarth R/R.
LEICESTER 43: Hans Andersen 12, Kenneth Bjerre 11, Krystian Pieszczek 9, Charles Wright 6+1, Todd Kurtz 5, James Sarjeant 0, Kyle Newman R/R.
