Swindon will head into tonight’s (Thursday) second leg of the Charity Shield after a 42-48 reverse at Belle Vue on Monday with a good chance of winning the season opening trophy, writes Phil Rice.

The CFS Filtration Robins worked hard to restrict the Aces throughout an entertaining season-opener.

The home side, well served by former Robin Steve Worrall and Max Fricke, who were both unbeaten going into Heat 15 - but Troy Batchelor, after being warned for moving at the tapes, flew from the gate two to spoil both Aces riders’ maximum hopes, and keep the margin to six and put the Robins with a god chance of landing early season silverware.

It was Batchelor’s third win of the meeting as he top-scored with paid 13 and it is good to see the Australian with a smile on his face and it could well be his contribution that could turn a good looking 2018 side into a title challenging team.

David Bellego and Tobiasz Musielak both picked up heat wins and Mitchell Davey’s Swindon debut was much better then perhaps most had anticipated and augurs well for the new season.

Captain Nick Morris scored points in each of his races but will probably be disappointed not to take a heat win but doubtless he’ll put that right this evening.

CHARITY SHIELD, 1st leg

BELLE VUE 48: Worrall 13+1, Fricke 13+1, Cook 7+1, Bewley 6, Drozdz 5, Etheridge 4+1, Tungate 0.

SWINDON 42: Batchelor 12+1, Bellego 7+1, Morris 7, Musielak 5+1, Davey 5+1, Ellis 4+2, Wajtknecht 2.