Gritty home display was perfect response (From Swindon Advertiser)

Gritty home display was perfect response

9:00am Saturday 26th July 2008 in Track Side

The week’s break that saw a pitiful performance by Team GB in the World Team Cup did nothing for the Robins as they went down to a disappointing away defeat at Ipswich Witches in front of the TV cameras on their return to league action on Monday.

It was a performance to quickly put behind them and that was what they did in some style on Thursday evening.

It wasn’t a classic but some determined riding from the likes of James Wright plus guest Krzystof Stojanowski, an improved performance from the returning Troy Batchelor and chuck in to the mix at least one sublime pass from captain Leigh Adams over fellow grand prix star Jarek Hampel and the fans were cheering rapturously from the terraces.

The five-point margin of victory is insignificant when it comes to the two league points gained.

And although we have to be looking over our shoulders at the likes of Lakeside and Ipswich who have meetings in hand, it was the kind of ‘steadying the ship’ performance that was needed to take us into the vital run in as we head towards the end of the season.

Home meetings against Peterborough, Poole, Coventry and Wolverhampton are now must-win occasions, as any form of slip up will surely dent any aspirations of a top-two finish, as is at least a couple of away wins from the choice of Wolverhampton, Lakeside, Peterborough, Poole and Coventry.

We certainly have the team to rise to that challenge but with the fortunes and misfortunes of speedway it will be down to riders scoring points and having a bit of luck along the way.

I think all supporters will join with me in saying that we hope that our young Croatian starlet Jurica Pavlic will soon find his feet when he is able to join the team once his work permit is granted and that he could be the boost that the Robins need to take us to Elite League victory (call me the eternal optimist!).

Looking to the stars of the future it was good to see both Sedgeman brothers, Richard Sweetman and local rider Charlie Saunders put in good performances against a team from Somerset in the second half meeting after the main event on Thursday.

With times just a few seconds outside their Elite League mentors the future looks bright for the Robins. Young Aussie Richard Sweetman is to be our special guest at the Robins Pit Crew Quiz night next Wednesday, July 30.

Rosco, pictured below, is hosting the event at the New Inn in Stratton from 8pm and teams of a maximum of four are invited to enter at a cost of £2 per person.

All monies raised will go towards the Riders Equipment Fund which helps our Robins riders with their machinery and equipment costs. For more details call 07946 398038.