SWINDON narrowly failed to pull off their third away victory of the season in a pulsating Sky Sports Elite League match at Eastbourne on Saturday night which went down to the final race.
With the points poised at 42 apiece, Swindon sent out the Aussie pairing of Leigh Adams and Travis McGowan for the decider, while Eastbourne relied on Scott Nicholls and young buck Ed Kennett.
The Robins could not have had a better start and were immediately in a 5-1 position.
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But Nicholls took Adams with a trademark cutback and Kennett accelerated past McGowan to secure a 4-2 victory heat victory which was enough to give the home side the points as they gained revenge for an embarrassingly one-sided recent defeat at Blunsdon.
Leigh Adams endured a rare individual defeat against a non-first choice rider when he was the meat in an Eastbourne sandwich in Heat 5, which went to Lee Richardson.
Adams lost 2-1 in his tussles on the night with fellow Grand Prix ace Scot Nicholls, but still managed to post 12 points and was superbly backed up by Seb Alden, who put together two heat wins and a 10 +2 haul.
Theo Pijper found it tough in his return from injury and both Troy Batchelor and Mads Korneliussen were not in the same free-scoring form that has characterised their season so far.
Yet Swindon showed why they are genuine title challengers, pushing third-placed Eastbourne all the way in this away tie.
On Bank Holiday Monday, in front of the Sky cameras they face an away match at Poole Pirates, who have brought in Grand Prix star Krzysztof Kasprzak as a temporary replacement for captain Bjarne Pedersen.
Pedersen broke a wrist in the first leg of the Craven Shield final at Coventry on Friday.
Then, on Thursday, the Robins entertain last years' triple champions and Coventry Bees at The Abbey.
SATURDAY, MAY 3
Sky Sports Elite League 'A'
Eastbourne Eagles 46 Swindon Robins 44
Eastbourne: Scott Nicholls 14, Lewis Bridger 4, Lee Richardson (capt) 8 (1), Cameron Woodward 8, Edward Kennett 10 (1), Nick Simmons 2, Brent Werner 0.
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