9:12am Thursday 17th April 2008
By Owen Houlihan
ALUN Rossiter is convinced Robins' stunning TV win at Ipswich on Monday was a landmark moment - and not just because he kept his cool with a referee for once!
Swindon defied all predictions to dump the much-fancied Witches 50-43 on their own track, picking up three crucial Elite League points and sending them joint-top of the early-season table.
The young Blunsdon line-up threw down the gauntlet to the rest of the top flight by battling back ferociously from 17-7 down in the early stages to stun an experienced home line-up in front of the Sky Sports cameras.
Rosco's previous line-ups have been heavily criticised for not having the stomach for a fight, but while skipper Leigh Adams and Mads Korneliussen again led from the front, youngsters James Wright, Troy Batchelor and reserve guest Joel Parsons stepped up to the plate too.
The Robins chief said: "I think we saw in this meeting what this side is capable of and what we've been talking about with them.
"We were thrown a bit by the start - we thought the start line would be grippy but it wasn't and it took us a while to get going.
"But once they were into it, I think the spirit in the team and the effort came through. We've said we've gone for a team of racers this season and that proved it."
The team boss has himself taken stick in the past, some of the good-natured variety for his discussions' with match officials, but some questioning his own leadership in the heat of battle.
Yet Rossiter answered those critics with an all-action display in the pits at Foxhall Stadium, where he was constantly to be seen cajoling his side to greater efforts, and in the referee's box where he calmly made his point to official Chris Gay after a contentious heat 10 incident between Batchelor and Witches' Robert Miskowiak.
He added: "People have berated me, but I believe, this time, I was right.
"But you don't get anywhere by screaming at referees. I'm well aware of that. I said my piece calmly and that was it."
Rossiter has switched McGowan and Korneliussen in the riding order for tonight's return against Ipswich at Blunsdon (parade 7.20pm) to try and help the Australian into top form.
And he has few concerns over the form of reserve Seb Alden, who failed to register a point on Monday.
Rossiter added: "Seb's had a couple of bad away meetings and he knows it. But he will come good. We're not going to be knocking people this year."
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/trade_directory/