IT WAS a dark night in Swindon Robins’ season as they were beaten in emphatic style in the Black Country last night.

Wolverhampton Wolves inflicted a first defeat in five for Swindon as they romped to a 62-30 victory at Monmore Green.

Despite heading into the meeting knowing that a win of any kind would be enough to lift them to the top of the Elite League and above their hosts, the two teams appeared galaxies apart on a fine evening in the Midlands.

With Wolves having not been beaten on home soil this term at Monmore Green, it was always going to be an uphill battle for Alun Rossiter’s side, but few predicted that they would be on the end of their worst defeat in 15 months.

Every rider in the Robins septet struggled as they were only able to pick up one heat victory all night, which came courtesy of a tactical ride from skipper Jason Doyle in heat 10, when he finished second with Wolves’ Jacob Thorssell having already been disqualified.

Rohan Tungate could only manage a score of 6+1 on a tough night and knows that the performance of the team was not good enough.

“It wasn’t the best of matches,” he said. “Sometimes it looked like we were going to perform better but we just seemed to be a bit hit and miss on the night.

“Some of us had some good races but we needed to win more races and that is what we didn’t do.

“Fair play to Wolves, they are pretty dialled in here and it is a special track but once you get used to it, it is a very good track to ride.

“I think their experience played a big role in the end. They are used to the best lines, but then again, it is pretty obvious what the best lines are and we were missing the exits off every turn and that was where we fell away a bit.

“Next time we come back here, we have to remember that and do better.

“Rosco was pretty disappointed and he kept drilling into our heads that we have to come off the line on the exit. He kept telling us and we didn’t really do it.

“I am happy with how I ended the meeting. It could have been a bit better in the last heat but I am sure we will come back stronger on Wednesday as a result.”