SPEEDWAY: Robins to face Birmingham in play-off semi final (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Batchelor and Kildemand star as Swindon Robins end on a high

8:34am Thursday 20th September 2012 in Sport

Sky Sports Elite League.
Birmingham 44
Swindon Robins 46.
SWINDON will face Birmingham in the Elite League Speedway play-offs – and they will travel to Perry Barr for the first leg next Monday, September 24.
Alun Rossiter’s side will make a swift return to the ‘Second City’ after pulling off a dramatic last-gasp 46-44 win against the Brummies on Wednesday to round off their regular league season in style.
Fans should note the home leg of the semi-final will be on Monday week, October 1.
Robins were up against it without injured skipper Hans Andersen, who should be fit to return for the play-offs, and Birmingham appeared to be well in control when ten points clear after nine heats.
But the impressive duo of Troy Batchelor and Peter Kildemand, who spearheaded the side all night in the absence of Andersen, wrapped things up with a final-heat 5-1 to take victory.
Reserve Sebastian Alden made a stunning return to the Robins side with a 10+2 haul and received special praise from boss Alun Rossiter.
Rossiter said: "Especially without Hans, I thought that was an outstanding performance from the boys. We started a bit slow but once we got going I thought we did really well.
“Batch and Peter Kildemand both had outstanding meetings and I think a special mention to Seb Alden, too, 10+2 was absolutely fabulous from him.”
Fans are reminded there is no meeting at the Abbey tonight following the postponement of the Knockout Cup tie with Peterborough and the next home meeting is the play-off date on October 1.
BIRMINGHAM: Sebastian Ulamek 10, Danny King 7, Bjarne Pedersen 6+2, Josh Auty 6, Nicolas Covatti 6, Martin Smolinski 5+2, Ben Barker 4+1.
SWINDON: Troy Batchelor 15+1, Peter Kildemand 13+2, Sebastian Alden 10+1, Simon Stead 4+1, Nick Morris 4, Dawid Lampart 0, Hans Andersen R/R.