SGB Premiership
Somerset Rebels 37
Swindon Robins 53

SWINDON had hoped to extend their league record to 12 successive wins at the Abbey last Thursday but after a fine day the rains came down heavily forcing a postponement of the derby fixture against Somerset.

The away return the next night looked somewhat of a banana skin but Jason Doyle, a class above anyone else during the match, and Tobiasz Musielak, riding for the first time at the Oaktree Arena, claimed an easy 5-1 in the opener to set the tone.

The home side looked as if they would take a fourth-race lead but Richard Lawson messed up allowing Nick Morris and guest James Sarjeant a share of the heat points. The rampant Robins, so quick from the gate, were six points up by heat nine before suffering a 5-1 reverse in the 10th race to bring the Rebels just two points behind.

But Doyle and Musielak claimed an easy 5-1 of their own to make it 36-30 with four races to go.

Heat 12 looked tricky for the Robins but the impressive Adam Ellis and a struggling Bradley Wilson-Dean shared the points, although the latter’s third place was at the expense of Lewis Kerr whose bike spluttered to a halt on the last lap when in third place.

Alun Rossiter’s side turned the screw with two 5-1s and a 4-2 to triumph 53-37 making it 12 wins on the bounce.

Doyle was, of course, unbeatable but sensibly the Australian – still struggling with injury – did not take the nominated heat 15 ride.

Doyle still claimed 11 points overall along with Musielak and Ellis, while Frenchmen David Bellego quietly claimed three victories in top-scoring with 12 points.

Nick Morris struggled early on but came to the party with a paid win behind Doyle in heat 13, easily heading the disappointing Rebels pair of Josh Grajczonek and Richard Lawson which sealed the victory.

Rossiter said: “It was an accomplished performance, we set the tone in heat one and it all went very well. Everybody chipped in and did their jobs.

"Tobiasz did really well. He has been our missing link since coming in but the whole team is firing at the moment and that is so pleasing to see.”

SOMERSET: Lewis Kerr 9+2, Charles Wright 9+1, Patrick Hougaard 7+1, Josh Grajczonek 6, Richard Lawson 4, Todd Kurtz 2, Cameron Heeps r/r.

SWINDON: David Bellego 12, Tobiasz Musielak 11+2, Jason Doyle 11+1, Adam Ellis 11, Nick Morris 5+1, Bradley Wilson-Dean 2+2, James Sarjeant 1+1.

SWINDON now face five home matches in 11 days in a bid to fit in their remaining SGB Premiership fixtures – starting tonight with the visit of King's Lynn Stars in the BT-sport televised clash.

Adults can attend for the bargain price of £5 with under-16s granted free admission.

New averages see Adam Ellis promoted back to the main body of the team and he moves to number two to partner talisman Jason Doyle. 
Bradley Wilson-Dean replaces Ellis at reserve with in-form Tobiasz Musielak shifting to number three.

“Bradley has a new engine coming," said boss Rossiter. "He has been struggling with motors recently but we need him to get going so with a bit of luck, he will start picking up.”

James Sarjeant again replaces the injured Zach Wajtknecht at reserve tonight. 

Play-off chasing Somerset Rebels have agreed to reschedule last week's rained-off clash for Thursday, August 24.