SWINDON Robins started the new SGB Premiership season with a defeat at Leicester Lions, although the new-look side at least travelled home with a point to show for their efforts.

It was a tricky night for all of the Robins riders in truth as only Nick Morris really got to grips with the redesigned Beaumont Park track, claiming three wins from five races for 13+1 points and was only beaten by a Lions rider in the final heat of the night.

Skipper Jason Doyle and new reserve Zach Wajtknecht were the only other Swindon team members to claim a race win on the night, doing so once each, as the hosts triumphed in 10 of the 15 heats in total.

Robins team manager Alun Rossiter admitted his troops faced an uphill task in the second half of the meeting after falling eight points behind after eight heats so was pleased that they fought their way back to finish with a point.

“It got away from us. We had a couple of niggly problems but all in all, I am satisfied with that – it was the first one,” said Rossiter.

“It was a bit tricky because one of the corners was bit messy and it was very hard from the start, some of the gates were very unbalanced and it was the rub of the green where you ended up.

“We got a point and I am happy with that. Some people might say we should have won but it is what it is – it is our first meeting with a new team.

“I am really pleased for Nick because we need him to step up. Jason didn’t have his best night but that is going to happen. That’s life and when Jason does have a rare off-night, it’s noticeable.

“Zach getting a race win was a real bonus. Emil (Grondal) was nice and steady in his first one and David (Bellego) admitted he made a few mistakes but I think he will only get better.

“Adam (Ellis) is going to get better too, there were a couple of problems he had but he will be fine, and Bradley (Wilson-Dean) was trying hard but didn’t get the rewards he should have but he is another that will got better.”

It was a sloppy start to both the meeting and the first race for the Robins as Doyle and Bradley Wilson-Dean got caught in the gates in the opening heat as Kim Nilsson led home a Lions maximum.

Leicester continued to start the better off the line and took victory in each of the next two heats through Josh Bates and Lasse Bjerre, although Swindon did at least manage to share the points in each of those.

The visitors finally got their first win of the night in race four and did so courtesy of a stunning ride from newcomer Wajtknecht. The Robins reserve got the drop on the rest of the field and Morris was able to muscle past Nicolai Klindt behind to follow him home to level up the scores at 16-16.

Parity did not last long, though, as Heat Five proved another frustrating one for Doyle. Although he was able to sneak between the Leicester pair, he was unable to overhaul Bjerre out in front despite a valiant chase to the line.

A fall for Lions man Erik Riss gave Swindon the initiative in Heat Six and Morris responded by getting the drop on Nilsson for victory to level up the overall scores once again.

However, that good work was undone in the next as Adam Ellis pulled up almost straight away and that was compounded as David Bellego was forced to the back of the pack as Klindt inspired a Leicester maximum.

The home side began to turn the screw in Heat Eight with a second straight 5-1 victory, led by Bates, but a stunning ride from Morris in the next saw him earn a second win of night and the Robins were helped out as Kacper Gomolski fell on the final bend of the last lap, promoting Emil Grondal to third.

Riss won the next for the Lions, although Bellego and Ellis did at least share the points, before Swindon skipper Doyle was finally able to make a gate in Heat 11 and from there it was a classy win, however, the hosts were able to share the points and led 36-30 with four races to go.

An untouchable ride from Bates made it three straight shared heats in the next before the race of the night unfolded in Heat 13. Morris and Nilsson duelled for the first three laps before the Robins man finally got the edge to claim his third win.

That 4-2 success for Swindon was cancelled out by Leicester in the next as a win for Bjerre gave the home side overall victory on the night with a race to spare.

Another cracking battle between Nilsson and Morris unfolded in the final heat of the night but this time it was the Leicester number one who came out on tops as Swindon's young Australian could not find a way through and was beaten by a Lions rider for the first and only time on the night.

Robins boss Rossiter added: “We knew we couldn’t win it so for Heat 15 we just said we need three points to lose by less than six and that’s what we got.

“It would have been nice to win, I think we could have done it but it wasn’t to be. It was our first meeting and I am happy to come away with a point. All in all, it’s OK.

“It’s early days and considering everyone has written us off, coming home with a point is even better.”