SWINDON Robins boss Alun Rossiter credited Darcy Ward for lifting the performance of skipper Troy Batchelor as the Australian duo combined to help neuter the Wolverhampton Wolves.

The Robins completed a second win at Monmore Green in as many weeks as they raced a 52-38 victory.

Ward finished unbeaten as his 13, paid 15, points set the foundations for a third win on the bounce.

The 23-year-old was supported by his fellow countryman Batchelor as the pair completed two 5-1 maximums to put the visitors in an unassailable position by heat 14.

With Swindon’s third Aussie, Nick Morris, still sidelined with an elbow injury, Chris Harris came in and his 10, paid 12, points also proved vital in the Robins’ away success.

“It was an excellent performance and everybody did their jobs tonight,” said Rossiter.

“Darcy did well, Troy did well, Zengi was great again and Chris Harris was a superb guest.

“I think he (Darcy Ward) has taken the pressure off Troy Batchelor and he has dragged Troy along now.

“We’re seeing the Troy Batchelor which I believe is why we have got him in our team.

“We were struggling without a number one, but now we have got a number one he is bringing Troy along and he is raising his game.”

Ward set the tone for the night in the first heat as he took Tai Woffinden’s track record with a time of 53.45secs to take the win and a share of the points.

Wolves’ reserve rider Josh Bates saw his night cut short in heat two when he gated well but was caught up with Charles Wright in a tangle on the second lap.

The Robins rider was disqualified from the re-run and despite Bates getting back on his bike to take a point, he failed to continue.

Two 5-1 maximums from Harris and Batchelor in heat three and Grzegorz Zengota and Wright in heat four gave Swindon the early advantage.

Despite Jacob Thorssell and Lewis Blackbird combining to bring the deficit back down to two points with a maximum in heat five, the visitors always looked in command.

The Aussie pair of Ward and Batchelor got off the mark well in heat six and Batchelor just held on to second place for the first lap before Ward let him past to help secure the maximum.

The two sides continued to trade blows during a thrilling night of racing, epitomised in heat nine when Zengota got the perfect start and was closely followed by Thorsell, who took the Pole on the back straight of the second lap.

Wright could do little at the back, and despite a late surge from Zengota, Thorssell held onto the win to close the gap to just four points.

After two shared heats, the evening appeared to hinge on the 12th heat between both sets of reserve riders.

Wolves were always struggling without the injured Bates, but Blackbird did well to limit the damage with a second-place finish as Wright took the win.

Wolves did not give up, however, as they pushed Harris and Zengota all the way in heat 14 with the Bomber doing enough for the win and the Pole being sandwiched on the line between Tobiasz Musielak and Ricky Wells.

Fredrik Lindgren then gated well in the last and did enough to keep the Robins’ Aussie duo behind him until the last lap when Ward pounced.

The Swindon number one showed all his skill ias he took Lindgren going into the final lap to complete the 14-point victory.

“We got our noses in front and we kept there,” added Rossiter.

“It was a bit nip and tuck in the middle but yet again we came strong in the latter stages.

“The last few heats, we always know that later on we are strong, so it is pleasing knowing that we have that to come early on.

“It would have been too easy to come here and think we were going to win because we won last time.

“They would have had their tails up, but I have got to give my boys credit, they lifted their game.

“Chris is a great guest, I know he goes well around here.

“I have seen him here in the British Finals, I saw him here when he rode for Coventry “It is a track you need to attack and I know that Chris will always give me 110 per cent.

“It was a bit of a no brainer and it is horses for courses.”