Rico's Robins shock

8:17am Monday 28th April 2008

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SWINDON asset Lee Richardson admits even he has been surprised by the start his old side have made in the Elite League as he prepares for his latest Blunsdon reunion tonight.

Richardson had to fly the Robins nest in the winter following the introduction of the new team points limit, and he has since found his wings with Eastbourne Eagles.

The Sky Sports cameras will be on hand tonight to catch all the action in the top-of-the-table clash, when Eastbourne will be hoping to reduce the four point gap between themselves and Alun Rossiter's men.

"At the start of the season people had Swindon down for the wooden spoon but they are flying at the moment. I can't quite believe it to be honest," admitted Richardson.

"I thought they might finish mid-table, and maybe push for the play-offs, but few people expected this.

"With no bonus point this season it really is about who can sneak some wins on the road. Swindon have done that twice already and it's put them in a very good position."

Rico' clearly remembered the fastest route around the Abbey when he returned with the Eagles in March, scoring paid 12 in a narrow 48-42 Craven Shield defeat.

Swindon's record signing spent three successful seasons in Wiltshire before his move, and he knows first hand the severity of the task facing his Eagles tonight.

"Blunsdon is always a difficult place to perform as an away rider, and it will be no different on Monday,' he said.

"The other boys will be looking to me in the pits to give them some advice, but once they get onto the track it's down to them.

"The two meetings in the Craven Shield were fairly close and I think that will be the case again."

After an opening day win at reigning champions Coventry Bees, Eastbourne have hit the buffers in recent weeks, culminating in a 51-39 loss to Ipswich on Thursday.

But the Eagles are still perched in second spot and will be ready to strike should Swindon slip up.

Said Richardson: "We started the season really well with that great win at Brandon, but since then we have been inconsistent.

"It is a young team this year so maybe that was to be expected, but hopefully we can get going again soon."

Meanwhile, Robins boss Alun Rossiter believes tonight's meeting represents the "sternest test yet" for his side.

Rosco said: "It will definitely be our toughest meeting. If we can come through that it will show just how strong we are getting.

"If we can put a little gap between us we can go there on Saturday and put the pressure on them to beat us."