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BREAKING NEWS: Awesome Robins humble Eagles
Leigh Adams
Leigh Adams

SWINDON Robins soared to a six-point lead at the top of the Elite League tonight with a resounding 56-37 win over Eastbourne Eagles.

All the riders contributed to a superb team display, with skipper Leigh Adams (paid 14) the top scorer on his 37th birthday.

Before the action commenced, there was an impeccably-observed minute's silence for Tim Stone, the former Newport Speedway promoter who died at the weekend.

Birthday boy Leigh Adams got the Robins off to a flying start, the captain roaring out of the gates to win from Scott Nicholls, with James Wright collecting a useful point in third.

Heat Two saw Seb Alden and Cory Gathercole cruise to a 5-1 in a pedestrian time of 68.48, with Simon Gustafsson and Andrew Bargh nowhere to be seen.

Another Robins maximum followed in three, Aussies Travis McGowan and Troy Batchelor holding off the challenge of fellow countryman Cameron Woodward. Swindon asset Lee Richardson, on his second return to Blunsdon, was forced to retire on lap three due to an engine failure.

Edward Kennett stopped the rot for the Eagles in four, keeping Mads Korneliussen and Alden at bay to secure a 3-3 and a first heat win of the night for the Eagles.

It was desperate measures for Eastbourne as early as heat five, as they sent out Nicholls in the black and white helmet for a tactical ride.

The ploy worked perfectly as the Suffolk-born star exploded out of gate three to take the chequered flag, an erratic Lewis Bridger collecting third for 7-2 to the visitors.

Heat six went to a re-run after an excitable Kennett was excluded following a spectacular crash into the barriers on the opening bend.

Adams cleared the way for Wright to win the re-run with a clever piece of gating, and the Robins skipper glided home in second for another Swindon maximum.

Korneliussen produced the ride of the night in heat seven, the Dane thrilling the crowds as the stormed from third to first in the space of two laps.

It was all but over as a contest after heat eight, Alden and Wright chalking up Robins fourth maximum, as they came home ahead of Gustafsson and the retired Bridger.

Eastbourne suffered another engine failure in nine, Bargh retiring early as Kennett split home riders Batchelor and McGowan for a Robins 4-2.

Heat 10 served up another Swindon 5-1, Adams crossing the line first with Wright fending off a disappointing Richardson for second place.

Heat 11 was re-run with all four riders, Nicholls reducing the arrears to 43-26 with his second win, as Korneliussen failed to reel him in.

Batchelor underlined his credentials as one of the hottest young properties in the Elite League with a stunning heat win in 13, passing former Blunsdon darling Richardson as he went high and wide and then drove back up the inside on bend two of the final lap.

Nicholls continued his one man bid to restore Eastbourne's pride in heat 13, pipping Adams to the chequered flag with Korneliussen in third.

A second 5-1 of the night followed for the Eagles in 14, Gustafsson gating well for the heat win with teammate Woodward a close second.

Adams gained a measure of revenge on Nicholls as he sauntered to victory in the final heat of the night, Batchelor coming home second for yet another Robins Maximum and a staggering 56-37 success.

9:47pm Monday 28th April 2008

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