SGB Premiership
Swindon Robins 56
Poole Pirates 34
SWINDON Robins out-gated and outfought a disappointing Poole side 56-34 in Thursday's Premiership match at the Abbey.

This eighth successive win put the Robins up to second place at least temporarily but it was achieved at a cost as popular reserve Zach Wajtknecht fell in heat 12 damaging his spleen and it looks as if he will be out for the rest of the season.

From the main straight it just looked like an innocent fall but riders and officials in the pits felt that his Robins team-mate Wilson-Dean needlessly caused the accident and certainly words were exchanged.

Ironically Adam Ellis had been named as replacement for Wilson-Dean in the race but the Kiwi took his place. His win in the rerun clinched the home side victory.

In truth Poole were extremely disappointing and had suffered a fourth consecutive home loss 24 hours earlier.

Owner Matt Ford had threatened changes but his team did not seem to take his warnings on board. This was the first time the Pirates have not taken a league point from an away trip this season.

Hans Andersen looked as if he was on fire in heat one as he lead the field but the still hobbling Jason Doyle just snatched the win in the last 50 metres, with Tobiasz Musielak taking third place for a 4-2.

Ellis and Wajtknecht combined for a 5-1 in race two but the Pirate’s fate was sealed as they suffered three successive 5-1 reverses from race four including Andersen’s trailing in third place when on double points in heat five as David Bellego and Wilson-Dean claimed an easy 5-1 against the Dane and Edward Kennett.

The Robins could easily have hit 60 points as a number of points were thrown away thanks mainly to home riders anticipating the start and while the referee may have been over zealous once or twice, manager Alun Rossiter and his team have to address this.

Fast gating is key but it spoils the evening as a spectacle to see riders brought back time after time when the promotion is working hard on putting on a good show.

Doyle and Bellego each had three wins with the skipper dropping his point in heat 13 as, with light drizzle falling, Timo Lahti out-gated Nick Morris and Doyle was happy to follow them home.

Morris’s 11 points included a second place despite a 15-metre starting penalty.

The side travel on Wednesday to King’s Lynn, who are beset with management and team problems including 2012 world champion Chris Holder being suspended for 28 days for refusing to take his place in a heat during a recent home match with Poole.

Doyle and Morris now have the highest averages in the Premiership but are backed by a team of fighters with the Pole Tobiasz Musielak– the winner in heat eight – being the final ingredient in the cocktail, and it must be hoped that any replacement for the unfortunate and popular Wajtknecht does not upset the balance.

My money is on either Joe Jacobs or Michael Palm-Toft coming in as replacement.

On Thursday, basement side Leicester are at Blunsdon and then the team travel to Hoddesdon on Saturday to take on Rye House.

The Robins have already tasted victory there with an at-the-time surprising 49-41 knockout cup win in April. However in a surprising change the Rockets have dropped former Swindon rider Justin Sedgmen and brought in 2014 world championship runner-up Krzysztof Kasprzak – at reserve!

SWINDON: David Bellego 13, Nick Morris 11+1, Jason Doyle 10+1, Tobiasz Musielak 7+1, Bradley Wilson-Dean 6+2, Adam Ellis 5+1, Zach Wajtknecht 4+2.

POOLE: Jack Holder 8+1, Timo Lahti 7, Hans Andersen 6, Richie Worrall 6, Paul Starke 3+2, Edward Kennett 3, James Shanes 1+1.