SPEEDWAY: Robins maintain their title push (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Robins' easy win over Eastbourne keeps pressure on leaders Poole

6:20pm Sunday 29th July 2012 in Sport

Sky Sports Elite League.

Swindon Robins 53.

Eastbourne 38.

SWINDON closed the gap at the top of the Sky Sports Elite League with a convincing win against Eastbourne at the Abbey on Thursday night.

The Robins moved back to four points behind leaders Poole and had skipper Hans Andersen to thank as he stormed to a faultless 15-point maximum.

There was also some good back-up from Troy Batchelor (10), Simon Stead (9), Jason Doyle (8+3) and David Lampart (8+1).

For once, Peter Kildemand did not contribute his usual stack of points, outscoring only guest James Wright with his 2+1.

Alun Rossiter’s men were in control right from the off with Andersen and Doyle opening proceedings with a 5-1.

Batchelor and Lampart then stretched the home advantage to eight with a maximum in Heat 4, although Eagles duo Joonas Kylmakorpi and Lukas Dryml did reply with five of their own in Race 6.

But the Andersen and Doyle pairing restored the eight-point lead in Heat 7 and they linked up once again in Heat 10 to put the Robins 11 points clear.

Kylmakorpi’s tactical-ride second place behind Batchelor in Heat 11 did pull a couple of points back courtesy of a 5-3, but the Wiltshire men fired in three successive 4-2s in the closing races which leaves them in a healthy position in the race for the play-offs.

SWINDON: Hans Andersen 15, Troy Batchelor 10, Simon Stead 9, Jason Doyle 8+3, Dawid Lampart 8+1, Peter Kildemand 2+1, James Wright 1+1.

EASTBOURNE: Timo Lahti 13, Joonas Kylmakorpi 11+1, Cameron Woodward 7+1, Lukas Dryml 5+2, Henning Bager 2+1, Lewis Bridger 0, Simon Gustafsson R/R.