Elite League

Swindon 51 Belle Vue 40

SWINDON blasted back to top form with an impressive 51-40 win over previously unbeaten Belle Vue at the Abbey Stadium on Thursday.

The heeded the call of boss Alun Rossiter to make a sharper start to proceedings, and their eventual victory was a good deal more convincing than the final scoreline suggested.

Skipper Jason Doyle dropped his only point to opposite number Matej Zagar in Heat 15 and there were highly encouraging shows from Justin Sedgmen and Rohan Tungate after their struggles the previous week against Wolverhampton.

Zagar was eclipsed in the first race by Doyle and Sedgmen, and reserves Tungate and Stefan Nielsen also banked maximum points in heat two.

There was a potential setback in heat four when Nielsen fell on the car park turn and was unavoidably struck by team-mate Josh Grajczonek, but both Robins riders avoided injury and Graczjonek duly won the re-run.

A further 5-1 in heat five left the home side 22-8 up with the Aces looking far from their pre-meeting self-proclaimed status as title favourites.

A tactical ride for the visitors failed to produce the desired outcome as Zagar was a clear winner of heat six but team-mate Craig Cook, the man handed the double-points responsibility, could finish only third.

The Robins gradually built an unassailable lead with a series of 4-2s, and just when Belle Vue looked set for a response Nick Morris superbly got the better of Zagar for second place on the line in heat 10.

Swindon led 48-31 with two races to go, with the Aces taking mild consolation from a 5-1 in Heat 14 and then a 4-2 in the last race as Doyle finally lost his unbeaten tag.

Rossiter said: “It was the right response from the team. We had a few words before the meeting, nothing serious, but it seemed to work well.

“Getting a 5-1 in the first race put us on the front foot, and we knew they would come back at us but the boys dug in deep and it was a great performance.

“Even with Richie Worrall out, Belle Vue still got six paid seven from his rides which is probably what he would have done, so that made no difference. Overall, I’m delighted with that display.”

SWINDON: Jason Doyle 14, Justin Sedgmen 9+1, Rohan Tungate 9+1, Josh Grajczonek 9, Nick Morris 7, Stefan Nielsen 2+1, Charles Wright 1.

BELLE VUE: Steve Worrall 10+2, Matej Zagar 10, Scott Nicholls 8, Max Fricke 6, Craig Cook 4, Joe Jacobs 2+2, Richie Worrall r/r.

Swindon were unable to make it back-to-back victories when their fixture at Purfleet on Friday night against Lakeside Hammers was postponed due to an adverse weather forecast.