SWINDON Robins were dealt a first defeat in seven meetings as they were pipped to the post at the Abbey Stadium to lose 46-44 to Poole Pirates.

The reigning champions flew out of the gates as they built up an eight point advantage by heat five but a hat-trick of maximums put Swindon back in front.

The meeting continued to ebb and flow but it was the visitors who just had enough to claim the win as Chris Holder took the victory in heat 15 to secure the two point win.

Swindon's latest set of greensheet averages saw Charles Wright return to reserve with Justin Sedgmen elevated back into the main body of the team.

Poole also saw a change at reserve as Kyle Newman moved back to that berth with Adam Ellis elevated into the main body of the side as the fourth ranked rider.

Swindon got away slowly in heat one but Jason Doyle was able to get in behind fellow Grand Prix rider Holder out of bend two before Josh Grajczonek took third spot from Ellis at the start of lap two.

There was confusion at the start of heat two as it took two laps before red lights were noticed and following a second re-start the heat was eventually completed with Newman going around the outside of Stefan Neilsen out of bend two to take the lead before Brady Kurtz claimed second spot at the start of the second lap.

A cracking start by Hans Andersen gave Poole the advantage in heat three and he was protected by Krzysztof Buczkowski going into bend one with Swindon having no answers as the Pole claimed the win.

Pedersen went down in the first bend of heat four under contact but he dusted himself off to beat the two Swindon riders out of the first bend with Wright following Nick Morris home.

Swindon made the most of the first break for grading the track as they came out for heat five and Nielsen lead Grajczonek out of bend two and the Aussie did well to keep Kurtz behind him for a maximum.

Swindon pulled back level in the next heat after Tungate started well and Morris went around his outside to lead home the field.

Tungate put hearts in mouths at the Abbey as he almost collided with the barrier coming out of bend four of the penultimate lap but did well to keep Holder behind him.

Swindon’s momentum continued as a great start by Sedgmen was supported perfectly by Doyle to complete a third maximum in a row in heat seven.

Poole were able to halt Swindon’s run as Kurtz did enough to hold off Wright in heat eight, with Morris starting 15 metres back.

Morris was able to take Ellis on the penultimate lap but goes down in front of the pits and Ellis is collected, with the heat awarded to Kurtz.

In heat nine, Grajczonek got the better of some poor starts but the two Poole riders had the pace to beat the Aussie down the back straight.

Grajczonek got the better of Pedersen on lap two for second spot but could not beat Newman as Poole pulled back level.

Kurtz, replacing injured Ellis, started perfectly in heat 10 and was supported by Holder.

Sedgmen split the two Poole riders in the second lap before Holder came back to take the win with Tungate retiring.

Both Swindon riders started well in heat 11 but Andersen had the pace to go around the outside to take the lead.

On lap two, Doyle almost lost control in bend one and two but just held on and as a result Buczkowski put his bike down, forcing a restart with Doyle disqualified.

After a third restart, Andersen had his bike dialled in from the start and lead the way but Grajczonek was able to limit the damage.

Nielsen got away well in heat 12 and held onto the lead out of bend two but Wright, fighting for third spot, but couldn't find a way through as Poole maintained their six point advantage with three heats remaining.

Swindon closed the gap to just two with a maximum in heat 13 after Doyle started well and Sedgmen supported him underneath in bend one and two to close the gap.

Morris started well to lead in heat 14 but after Buczkowski held onto his bike after connecting with Tungate's wheel, he fought back for second place for a share of the spoils.

The meeting rested on the final heat but Holder flew away from the start to take the lead and Andersen closed the door on Morris coming out of bend two.

Andersen lost control of his bike at the end of the penultimate lap to let Morris and Doyle through but it was not enough as the visitors claimed the win.

SWINDON ROBINS 44: Jason Doyle (2,2*,DQ,3,1*) 8+2, Josh Grajczonek (1*,2*,2,2) 7+2, Rohan Tungate (0,2*,R,0) 2+1, Nick Morris (2,3,DQ,3,2) 10, Justin Sedgmen (1,3,1,2*) 7+1, Stefan Nielsen (1,3,0,3) 7, Charles Wright (0,1*,2,0) 3+1

POOLE PIRATES 46: Chris Holder (3,1,3,1,3) 11, Adam Ellis (0,0,1) 1, Krzysztof Buczkowski (3,1,1,2) 7, Bjarne Pedersen (3,0,1,1*) 5+1, Hans Andersen (2*,0,3,0,0) 5+1, Brady Kurtz (2*,1,3,2*,2) 10+2, Kyle Newman (3,0,3,1*) 7+1