SWINDON Robins were made to pay for a second slow start in a row as they suffered a third Elite League defeat in four meetings in 2016 when they went down at home to Wolverhampton Wolves this evening.

The Robins were left in the traps during a 50-42 loss at Leicester Lions on Wednesday night and they were slow out of the gates again at the Abbey Stadium.

The visitors built up a hefty 12-point cushion after six heats at Blunsdon and although the Robins rallied as the meet went on, it was not enough to prevent a first home defeat of the season for Alun Rossiter’s side.

Swindon got off to a nightmare start as the visitors claimed a maximum in the opening heat of the night as Joonas Kylmakorpi led home Sam Masters in a relatively unchallenged race, with Jason Doyle getting the hosts’ sole point.

A flying start from reserve Charles Wright made it one race win each in number two as he got the better of a nervy duel right to the line with former Robins rider Kyle Howarth, although Stefan Nielsen came home last and the points were shared.

Wolves then forged ahead with two 4-2 successes in a row, Jacob Thorssell and Howarth taking the honours ahead of Josh Grajczonek and Wright for Swindon in heats three and four respectively.

The away side made it three wins in a row in heat five as Masters muscled his way to the front for a steamrolling success although the efforts of Swindon duo Justin Sedgmen and Nielsen behind did at least see the points shared.

Wolves were in dominant mood at the hosts fell 12 points in arrears in race six when they fell victim to another maximum. A belter of a start from Mikkel Bech saw him pull clear and after Rohan Tungate pulled up, Grajczonek could only trail home third.

It needed Swindon skipper Doyle to stop the rot as a classy ride in heat seven ended a run of four straight Wolves victories, although with Nick Morris tailing off at the back, the points are shared.

The visitors were soon back on the front foot as another flying start from Masters fired him to a second big win in the next, with Wright producing another cracking ride of his own for second spot.

Rossiter switched reserves in heat 10, bringing in the in-form Wright for Nielsen, and it paid off brilliantly as he claimed a superb win, but with Sedgmen last, the points were again shared.

Wright’s success appeared to galvanise the home side as they claimed a brilliant – and much-needed – maximum as Morris got a belter of a start to lead home Grajczonek.

In an effort to turn the tide further, Rossiter sent Doyle out on a tactical ride in heat 11 but it did not come off as they want, with the Aussie left in the dust by Thorssell off the line and he could only finish second.

Wright continued his personal crusade the next, with a third win of the night after another fabulous ride, although an error from Nielsen behind cost him third place.

The gap came down to six points with two heats to go as Doyle stormed to another classy win in race 13, with Nick Morris getting the better of a battle at the back for third place.

However, the resistance did not last long and Swindon’s slim hopes of victory on the night were finally extinguished in the penultimate race as a brilliant win from Lindgren secured Wolves the spoils.

Doyle was able to salvage some pride for the home side with a third victory of the night in heat 15 but it was just a pity the fightback had not started sooner.

SWINDON ROBINS - 44: Jason Doyle (1-3-4^-3-3) 14, Justin Sedgmen (0-2-0) 2, Josh Grajczonek (2-1-2’-2-1) 8+1, Rohan Tungate (0-F-0) 0, Nick Morris (F-0-3-1) 4, Stefan Nielsen (0-1’-0) 1+1, Charles Wright (3-2-2-3-1’-3-1’) 15+2

WOLVERHAMPTON WOLVES - 48: Joonas Kylmakorpi (3-2’-1-0) 6+1, Sam Masters (2’-3-3-0-0) 8+1, Jacob Thorssell (3-1’-3-0) 7+1, Freddie Lindgren (1-2-2-3-2) 10, Mikkel Bech (1-3-0-2) 6, Ashley Morris (G) (1’-0-1’) 2+2, Kyle Howarth (2-3-1-1’-2) 9+1