Hauz that! (From Swindon Advertiser)

Hauz that!

12:10pm Friday 13th June 2008 in

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HIS native Austria may have clung on to their Euro 2008 status by their fingertips after a 1-1 draw with Poland in Vienna, but nothing was about to wipe the smile from Swindon new boy Manuel Hauzinger's face last night.

The 25-year-old made no attempt to mask his delight after a breathtaking debut which saw him return eight points from the reserve berth as Robins completely outclassed Eastbourne Eagles.

Hauzinger set foot in Wiltshire for the first time yesterday afternoon, but he negotiated the Abbey shale like a seasoned pro, picking up an incredible heat win over British champion Scott Nicholls in the process.

That ride surprised even Hauzinger himself, and the man from Vienna later admitted he could not have asked for anything more from his first Elite League outing.

"I did not expect to beat Scott because he is a very fast rider," Hauzinger said.

"Leigh Adams told me what to do from gate four and it worked brilliantly.

"Once I got in front I just had to ride the four laps as fast as I could.

"I would have been happy with one point from that heat, so get the three was brilliant for me."

Hauzinger rejected offers to join Peterborough Panthers and Poole Pirates earlier this season and he revealed Swindon was always his destination of choice.

"There was a few clubs who asked did I want to sign for them but everyone I spoke to in Europe said I had made the best choice with Swindon," he said.

"I always thought I was ready for the Elite League, but before it was not possible because speedway is a small sport in my country and I don't have much money.

"But now I am really happy."

After the customary Adams victory in the opening heat, the stage was set for Hauzinger to announce himself to the Blunsdon crowd.

And he did so in spectacular style, gating superbly to lead a heat which was awarded 4-2 in the home side's favour when Eagles' Simon Gustafsson crashed into the fence.

Mads Korneliussen then stretched the lead to 11-7, fending off former Blunsdon darling Lee Richardson to bring the supporters to their feet.

Eastbourne's Edward Kennett paid a heavy price for missing the two-minute warning in heat four as Troy Batchelor and James Wright took full advantage of Kennett's 15 metre handicap to record a 5-1.

Nicholls gave Eastbourne their first heat win in five, but Robins hit straight back in heat six.

Adams had his team head on again, providing excellent rear wheel protection for Seb Alden for another home maximum.

Richardson took a tactical ride for the Eagles in seven, but it was Batchelor who stole the show with his second heat win of the night.

Eastbourne clawed back some ground in eight, Bridger proving far too quick for Wright, who grabbed second ahead of Simon Gustafsson.

But Swindon put the result beyond any doubt in heat nine, Korneliussen and McGowan leaving Kennett and Brundle chasing shadows for another 5-1.

Heat 10 produced an exciting tussle between former Elite League pairs duo Adams and Richardson, the Swindon asset outpacing the home skipper to set up an Eagles 4-2.

A new Abbey Stadium hero was born in heat 11, the swashbuckling Hauzinger leading from tapes-to-flag, with Nicholls holding Batchelor off for second.

And it was Swindon's other reserve, James Wright, who stole the plaudits in 12, fending of Richardson for another Robins 4-2.

Heat 13 was a procession for Adams, with Nicholls and Kennett filling the other point-scoring positions.

McGowan earned his corn with a heat win in 14, before Eagles saved some face with a 5-1 in a re-run final heat after Korneliussen was excluded.