ALUN Rossiter praised his Swindon Robins troops as they dug out a 51-39 win over Leicester Lions in difficult conditions at the Abbey Stadium.

Swindon went into the televised clash with three defeats in their last three outings and the day carried added significance as the club marked the 69th anniversary since their first ever fixture, while team boss Rossiter celebrated his 53rd birthday.

David Bellego was fit to ride after a wrist injury and the Frenchman was singled out for praise.

“It was hard work. Obviously, with the weather conditions and the problems with have with the shale and everything else, it’s just not helping anybody,” said Rossiter.

“I was worried about David to start with because I didn’t know, with the track being a bit iffy, whether he would struggle or not.

“He didn’t and I am so pleased that he didn’t and thank goodness that he is back really. The rest of the boys all did well, Dimitri Berge got a good score and I’m confident if he didn’t (injured reserve) Zach Watjknecht would have.

“Dimitri got the kind of points that Zach would be getting and Zach has been getting five or six away from home too.

“Every time we have lost him we have never been able to recover from it. Luckily Dimitri’s average fitted in and did a job for us. You have to take the rough with the smooth.''

He added: “Unfortunately Jack (Smith, reserve) is struggling, but there is nothing I can do about that.“We had a blip over the last few weeks and as soon as we have a blip, everyone hits the panic buttons and starts saying riders should go.

“We didn’t have Nick (Morris) tonight after he got injured but the rest of them picked up some important points.”

As the sun beat down on a dusty Abbey Stadium track, Swindon got off to less than ideal start as skipper Morris was disqualified after a fall on the second bend.

But while he struggled with a leg problem after getting out of shape, Bellego got the win at the second attempt to ensure a shared heat.

The second saw guest reserve Berge have bike trouble, while Smith drifted out back to allow the visitors a 5-1 heat win.

Robins duo Tobiasz Musielak and Adam Ellis looked fast as they kicked on for a much-needed maximum in three, Ellis taking the win to level the overall score.

Four was another close one and shared, Troy Batchelor leading from start to finish, while Smith let a promising start fade after going wide at bend two.

The fifth it was a repeat performance as Musielak pursued leader Hans Anderson but didn't have enough to pass.

Bad luck stuck to Morris as he collided with Scott Nicholls on the fourth bend of the next and was forced to withdraw from the meeting, but Bellego was on hand again to tie the heat with another solitary victory.

Next, Berge held his lead from start to finish, Batchelor’s third place meaning the Robins took a 22-20 lead before Berge, who was swapped in for Smith grabbed a back-to-back win, a second place for Bellego taking Swindon's lead to 27-21.

Musielak was disqualified in nine following a nasty crash on the second bend but Ellis tied up the heat with the solo win and as Swindon found their groove Batchelor, who came in for Morris, led 10 from the front while Bellego came third.

The Lions hit back with a maximum in 11 as Batchelor had bike trouble and Smith failed to keep pace and it was honours even in 12 as Ellis won, but Berge's bike packed up.

In the 13th, Batchelor and Bellego came up with a maximum before Musielak came back from his earlier injury to win 14, Berge's point helping to wrap up the win.

In the final race, Batchelor signed off with a win as Ellis crossed the line third.

SWINDON ROBINS 51: Nick Morris (FX-FX, withdrew) 0, David Bellego (3-3-2*-1-2*) 11+2, Adam Ellis (3-1*-3-3-1) 11+1, Tobiasz Musielak (2*-2-FX-3) 7+1, Troy Batchelor (3-1-3-R-3-3) 13, Dimitri Berge (R-3-3-R-1) 7, Jack Smith (1-0-1) 2.

LEICESTER LIONS 39: Hans Andersen (1*-3, 2^-3-1-2) 12+1, Charles Wright (2-0-1-2*-0) 5+1, Josh Auty (0-0-2) 2, Ricky Wells (1-2-R-2) 5, Scott Nicholls (2-2-2-0) 6, Connor Mountain (3-1*-1*) 5+2, Stuart Robson (2*-1*-R-1*-0) 4+3.