SWINDON Robins team manager Alun Rossiter has spoken of his pride in the side after last night’s 52-40 win over Wolverhampton Wolves secured them top spot in the Premiership with two meetings remaining.

Many wrote off the Robins before a clutch was dropped this season, with some tipping them to finish bottom of the pile.

While Rossiter conceded his side may have been one rider short at the start of the campaign, the arrival of Polish rider Tobiasz Musielak has sparked a run of 17-straight wins in the Premiership which has seen the Robins move from well out of contention to top of the pile to hand them the first pick of who they will face in the play-offs.

“I never wrote this side off,” said Rossiter, who is all too aware that only half the job has been completed.

“I knew we were always one rider short but I am super proud with how they have all knuckled down and carried on and have done a fantastic job.

“Everybody was on Adam Ellis’ back. I always believed in Adam and he repaid the faith.

“We can’t take anything for granted. When it comes to the play-offs, it’s a different ball game.

“Everybody starts afresh and everyone is hungry to be in that final.

“We’ve just got to keep the same attitude going, making sure everybody is on their game.”

Last night’s meeting was delayed by 25 minutes after Swindon skipper Jason Doyle got caught in traffic on his drive from his Norfolk home to the Abbey Stadium.

However, the start was worth the wait for the home fans as Adam Ellis flew out of the gates to lead heat one by some distance, with Doyle showing his skill to take both Steve Worrall and Freddie Lindgren.

Guest Tero Aarnio’s put in a comprehensive win in heat two to ensure the gap stayed at four points before Musielak literally elbowed his way past Worrall for the lead in heat three, with David Bellego retiring with bike issues.

Sam Masters claimed the visitor’s first heat win in race four but it was only enough for a share of the spoils after Nathan Greaves did well not to collect Nick Morris into bend one, but, despite staying on his bike, fell to the back of the pack.

Musielak kept his perfect record going in heat five, but it was another split heat as Bellego continued to struggle with his bike at the back.

Swindon were eventually able to extend their advantage to six points in heat six as Doyle took the win and Ellis took advantage of Masters’ bike packing up down the home straight.

Heat seven was forced to be re-run for a third time after the second start was brought to an abrupt stop as Greaves couldn’t control his bike going into bend one of lap two and collected Aarnio, with Morris leading.

Bowtell was forced to replace Aarnio in the third start, with Greaves excluded, and got away well with Morris, but took a poor line through one and two and Thorssell was able to take him with ease but couldn’t prevent Swindon further increasing their lead.

Aarnio returned in place of Bowtell in heat eight, with Mark Riss taking Greaves’ place, the Wolves reserve being ruled out for the remainder of the night with a chest injury.

Swindon made it three 4-2 heat wins on the bounce as Ellis took his second win of the night and Aarnio continued to show something about him as he found himself third, pushing Worrall all the way.

Masters stopped the run in heat nine as he came out on top of a real battle with Bellego in bends one and two, with the pair lucky not to be collected by a slightly out of control Musielak.

However, it was only a temporary halt, as, after the third start, Doyle was able to take his second win of the evening to move Swindon 12 points clear and spark Wolves into using a tactical in heat 11 with Lindgren.

Aarnio made a fine start to deny Lindgren the lead but can count himself unlucky as his bike blew down the back straight to gift the Swede the lead, but Morris wasn’t done yet and he took the Wolves man with heading into bend three of the last lap and held on.

Masters blowing an engine from the lead in heat 13 handed Doyle and Morris a maximum and, with it, ensured that Swindon could not be toppled from top spot, with Wolverhampton securing only their second heat advantage of the night in heat 15.

Rossiter now turns his attentions to tonight’s meeting at Rye House Rockets, where he will be without Adam Ellis and is still looking for a second guest at reserve, with Aarnio returning to replace Bradley Wilson-Dean.

“We’ll approach it the same as we have every meeting so far,” he added. “We’ve just got to keep on going and nothing has changed.

“We’re going to be a bit weaker tomorrow without Adam and we’re struggling for reserves.

“At least we have got the cushion of knowing we’re in top spot.”