SWINDON Robins failed to pull back an eight point deficit as they crashed out of the play-offs to Coventry Bees.

The visitors had a sting in their tail as they beat the Robins 50-45 at the Abbey Stadium to secure an aggregate win of 99-86.

Kyle Howarth and Max Fricke were the pick of the riders from Coventry as they picked up five wins between them.

While Sarjeant won the battle of the reserves picking up seven points on the night, in stark contrast to Nathan Greaves who failed to complete any of his three races.

Swindon knew they had to get a good start to get back into the semi-final meet but two maximum wins for the Bees in the first six heats made the task even more difficult for the hosts.

Coventry all but sealed the victory in heat ten when they scored four points to extend their overall lead to 21 points with only five races remaining.

The Robins went into the meeting knowing they had an eight point deficit to overhaul after being beat 49-41 in the first leg at Brandon.

It took until heat 13 for the Robins to secure their first maximum of the night but it was all too little too late.

Swindon named an unchanged team from last week, while the Bees, who had Aaron Summers guesting for injured Ben Barker last time out, had Edinburgh’s Australian rider Max Fricke in the side at the Abbey.

Peter Kildemand got the Robins off to a good start when he took the heat one win but Hans Andersen and Howarth kept the scores level.

Things took a turn for the worse in the second heat when Sarjaent got away well and Steve Worrall had to fight well to keep Jason Garrity behind him.

Greaves went down in the second corner going in too hot to give Coventry the advantage.

Coventry pulled further ahead in the third with their first 5-1 of the night as Harris and Fricke got the better of Troy Batchelor and North to give them an overall lead of 14 points.

Swindon hit back in the next heat but it was only enough to pull two points back on their competitors.

Howarth got the lead into the first corner and there was no way back for Gustafsson, while Sarjeant was comfortable in third place as Nathan Greaves retired.

It was a poor get away for both Kildemand and Batchelor in heat five but Batchelor went around the outside of Fricke in the first corner to get in front to pull back two more points.

The result started to get away from Swindon after heat six as a poor start from both Robins gifted Coventry their second maximum of the night.

It was a dramatic race in the seventh heat. With Morris on a tactical it was vital for him to get the points but Coventry pulled out a lead in the first corner with Worrall taking a tumble.

It all changed in the first corner of the second lap though as Hansen wobbled to give Morris second place and then Garrity went into the barriers to hand Morris the lead and six points.

The score continued to get away from Swindon in the eighth heat.

The Robins’ riders seemed hesitant going into the first corner, and again both Coventry riders came out of the first corner in the lead and never looked troubled to give themselves a 19 point cushion.

The lead was extended in the ninth heat for Coventry as Greaves retired from his third race. Worrall went around the outside of Garrity in the first corner to claim second place well, but could not beat Sarjeant to the win.

The two-legged win was all but confirmed in heat 10 as Coventry gave themselves a 21 point lead with five races to go.

Guest rider Fricke continued his good night with another, while Kildemand, on a tactical ride, was always fighting Harris to stay in second place.

Despite the result being out of their grips the Robins kept fighting and North went around Andersen in the first corner of heat 11 to take the lead but Batchelor could not hold off the Dane down the straight as the former Swindon rider claimed second place.

It was honours even in heat twelve, before Gustafsson and Worrall teamed up in the penultimate heat to win it 4-2.

There was nothing to play for in the final race as Swindon could not even win on the night and Howarth took his third win of the night with Batchelor and Kildemand coming in behind.