Robins soar three points clear (From Swindon Advertiser)

Robins soar three points clear

9:38pm Thursday 5th June 2008 in Sport By Gareth Moorhouse

ROBINS extended their lead at the top of the Sky Sports Elite League to three points after a 53-40 victory over Peterborough Panthers at Blunsdon tonight.

The opening heat was all action from tapes to flag, with the two captains Leigh Adams and Hans Andersen jockeying for position throughout. Andersen forced Adams wide on the opening bend and held sway until lap three, when the Swindon skipper roared up the inside to take the lead and the chequered flag.

James Wright followed his captain's example with a heat win in two, but Panthers reserves Ryan Fisher and Morten Risager ensured another 3-3 split.

Mads Korneliussen then made it three heat wins in a row for the Robins, while Aussie Travis McGowan came home third to break the early deadlock.

Panthers notched their first heat win in four, Daniel King keeping Troy Batchelor at bay while Wright made up the point-scoring positions.

Korneliussen then produced a terrific ride to hold off compatriot Andersen for his second heat win, with McGowan bouncing back off the fence for another point.

Robins recorded their first maximum of the night in six, Adams nursing Alden to victory with a typically unselfish ride.

Batchelor stormed to victory in an uninspiring heat seven, but with Pijper nowhere to be seen the Panthers easily held on for a 3-3.

Ryan Fisher won a pedestrian-paced heat eight in 67.07, Alden and Wright sliding home second and third to maintain Swindon's eight point advantage.

McGowan got a morale-boosting chequered flag in nine, Korneliussen crossing the line second for another Robins 5-1.

And Swindon were almost out of sight after heat 10, Adams and Alden sandwiching Fisher on the opening bend before the Robins riders pulled away for a second straight maximum.

Peterborough used the tactical ride to good effect in 11, Andersen donning the black and white helmet for a double-points win ahead of teammate Bager.

Andersen bagged another heat win in 12 as a rider replacement, James Wright clinging to his coat tails for a game second.

And the Panthers skipper made it a triple in heat 13, beating Adams into second place with Batchelor third.

Robins wrapped up in the win in the penultimate heat, McGowan leading from tapes to flag before Adams sealed a 53-40 triumph with a dramatic win in heat 15.