SWINDON left King’s Lynn last Wednesday without a match point for the first time this season, losing 52-41.

The score was 15 all after heat six but a disappointing mid-meeting spell saw the Robins go 12 points behind after heat 10.

Jason Doyle then went out and secured a double-points victory while Bradley Wilson-Dean picked up third place for a 7-2 to pull the scores back to 38-31.

The Robins were in position for a comfortable 5-1 on the final lap of heat 13, as they attempted to grab a consolation league point.

But a rare mistake from Doyle saw him slide off into the air fence as Nick Morris took the chequered flag for just a 3-3 share of the spoils.

Fortunately the skipper was not badly injured and rode for his Polish side 48 hours later, securing a five-ride paid 10 points.

Morris dropped just one point at King's Lynn as he continued his much-improved form, but admitted it was another tough night for the team.

"The boys were battling away all night but for some of them this season just isn't happening when they need it to," said Morris.

The Robins now take a break from league action and return to racing at The Abbey against Rye House in the SGB Premiership on Thursday, June 15 (7.30).

One positive from the King's Lynn meeting was Adam Ellis’ first heat win of the season; he also showed his talent the previous weekend when carding a six-race maximum as he and Josh Bates won the qualifying round of the European Best Pairs Championship in the Czech Republic, with France, including David Bellego, in second place.

Bellego had uncharacteristically scored just two points against the King's Lynn Stars.

Ellis’ improved form showed again as he scored 12 for Great Britain when they came second to Australia in Germany at the Under-21 Team Cup semi-final.

The Kangaroos carded 47 with five-ride maximums from Max Fricke and Brady Kurtz. Surely when Swindon make changes, Ellis’ place seems a lot more certain than it did a month ago.

KING’S LYNN 52: Robert Lambert 10+1, Troy Batchelor 10+1, Chris Holder 9+1, Lewis Rose 7+2, Simon Lambert 7+1, Kai Huckenbeck 6+2, Nicklas Porsing 3.

SWINDON 41: Nick Morris 14, Jason Doyle 12, Adam Ellis 7, Zach Wajtknecht 3, David Bellego 3, Bradley Wilson-Dean 2, James Sarjeant 0.

THE Swindon Sprockets' chances of winning their group in the National Trophy took a irreversible dent last Thursday as rivals Plymouth and the Isle of Wight raced on the island with Plymouth taking a convincing 49-41 win.

The Sprockets had already lost heavily the previous week in Devon and with the Islanders having lost all of their four matches, the group has been won by Plymouth.

Swindon still have to host Plymouth although no date has been arranged for the meeting.

However the Devils, with three wins, have a 158-90 points difference while Lee Kilby’s side, with two wins, have a 130-140 deficit. So the clash is a dead rubber.