SWINDON Robins were sunk by a swashbuckling performance from Poole Pirates tonight as they were handed a heavy defeat by the Elite League champions.

The Pirates produced a dominant display to win 12 of the 15 heats at Wimborne Road in what was a trip to the coast to forget for Swindon.

There were few bright spots for Alun Rossiter’s men as guest Hans Andersen claimed two wins for nine points, while skipper Troy Batchelor was the only other Robins rider to cross the line first and finished with just 5+1.

Robins number one Darcy Ward claimed just 8+2 points on the first return to the home of his parent club.

Rossiter and his troops will travel back to Swindon to lick their wounds and hope for a reinvigorated performance tomorrow as they renew their play-off push when Lakeside Hammers visit the Abbey Stadium.

There was a sensational start to the night’s racing as number ones Ward and Chris Holder were locked in a tantalising battle but the Poole man just held the line into the first corner and that proved the difference to give the hosts the early edge.

Charles Wright looked on course to make it one win each in the next but after leading for two-and-a-half laps he was done by an excellent Kyle Newman pass.

Pirates skipper Maciej Janowski then made it three wins from three for home side, although Andersen and Batchelor followed him home to minimise the damage.

And the Robins were again winless after heat four as Kacper Gomolski's fast start proved pivotal despite the game pursuit of Grzegorz Zengota.

Swindon’s cause was not helped by Krcmar’s fall and exclusion in heat five, although Wright at least claimed a second behind Davey Watt.

When the Robins finally did claim a win they did so in stunning fashion as skipper Batchelor and number one Ward storm to a dominant maximum to cut an eight-point deficit to four.

However, that good work was swiftly undone as Poole captain Janowski led home Holder for a maximum for his side in the next.

The Robins had the chance to reply when Newman was excluded following a nasty-looking collision with Wright, from which thankfully both walked away from, but Gomolski pulled off a fine win in the re-run.

A cracking start from Watt got the job done in the next, despite Zengota's best efforts and even number one Ward could not kick-start the Robins into life as he was shown a clean pair of heels by Janowski as the hosts led by 10 after 10.

Rossiter rolled the dice in heat 11 as Andersen rode a tactical but it turned out to be a disaster for the Robins as Holder led home a Poole.

Wright showed unbelievable commitment in the next, giving everything to the cause but that ultimately led to a fall as the Pirates took another one-two.

Batchelor and Ward are simply outclassed by the dominant Pirates in 13 as Holder led the hosts took a third max in a row before Andersen claimed just a second win of the night for Swindon.

And although Swindon finished with a flourish as Andersen led home Ward in a one-two it was too little, too late.

ROBINS: Darcy Ward – 2-2’-2-R-2’=8+2; Eduard Krcmar – 0-FX-2-0=2; Hans Andersen – 2-0-1-3-3=9; Grzegorz Zengota – 2-1-2-0=5; Troy Batchelor – 1’-3-0-1=5+1; Charles Wright – 2-2-1’-1’-F=6+2; Darryl Ritchings – 0-0-1=1.

PIRATES: Chris Holder – 3-2’-3-3-R=11+1; Davey Watt – 1-3-3-2’=9+1; Dakota North – 0-0-1-1’-1=3+1; Kacper Gomolski – 3-1-3-2=9; Maciej Janowski – 3-3-3-2’=11+1; Paul Starke – 1-1-1-0-3=6; Kyle Newman – 3-X-2’=5+1.