WOLVES LOSE 1ST LEG OF CUP SEMI-FINAL

RORY Schlein feels Wolverhampton have still got an ‘outside chance’ of reaching the Sports Insure Premiership Knockout Cup Final.

That’s despite losing the away leg of their semi-final 54-36 at Sheffield on Thursday leaving the Parrys International Wolves with an 18 point deficit to overturn to make it through.

The end result doesn’t quite reflect how the full contest panned out in South Yorkshire though as the Wolves were only six points down with four races remaining.

But Sheffield struck three late 5-1s to extend their advantage.

And while Schlein admits they were hoping to keep it close, he feels their efforts from the first 11 races have just about kept their hopes alive.

“They’re pretty special around their place so we knew it was going to be tough,” he said.

“We hung in there for quite a bit but it was just a hard meeting.

“The gate positions were swinging around; they favoured Sheffield at first and then they came back to us and the track rode a little bit inconsistent but it’s the same for everyone. 

“We know what we can do in the second leg though so while the result could’ve been better, we’ve given ourselves an outside chance for sure.”

The decider takes place at Monmore Green on Monday, June 19 (7.30).

Top scorer for Wolves Ryan Douglas.