Batchelor rescues draw for Robins (From Swindon Advertiser)

Batchelor rescues draw for Robins

9:42pm Thursday 17th April 2008 in Sport By Andy Cryer

TROY Batchelor held his nerve to hand Robins an unlikely point at the Abbey Stadium as their thrilling 45-45 draw with Ipswich kept their 22-monthe unbeaten home recrd intact.

The withdrawal of Mads Korneliussen was a huge blow to Robin's hopes, after he took a fall for Poole on Wednesday night, while Ipswich brought in Poole's Chris Holder for Piotr Swiderski.

It was the hosts though who dealt better early on with the absentees as they roared into a surprise 12-6 lead after three heats.

Travis McGowan's fortunes showed little sign of improving when he dropped from first to last on one corner in heat three but Seb Alden's fourth heat win at least brought the gap back to just four points for the Robins.

Aussie McGowan hit back with a much-needed heat win in five and when Adams brilliantly followed Wright home in heat six for a maximum, the hosts went ahead for the first time of the night Ipswich kept up the heat though with a 5-1 in the next and only last-gasp over-taking move in heat eight stopped another maximum for the visitors.

A battling second place from Batchelor in heat nine and another late over-taking move by Wright in the next kept Robins within touching distance but the 28-32 deficit was not in the script.

Batchelor's first heat win of the night in 13 could not stem the tide although Adams' burst through the middle of Chris Holder and Alden took a crucial victory to keep the gap four points with two heats left Any hope of victory went with a 3-3 in heat 14 but Batchelor's heat 15 win, followed in by Adams, earned Robins a crucial point t keep them top of the Elite League