SWINDON Robins team manager Alun Rossiter was left praising his ‘awesome’ Australian duo of Jason Doyle and Nick Morris and his side salvaged a point at Premiership leaders Wolverhampton Wolves.

The visitors to Monmore Green has looked dead and buried at one stage, finding themselves 14 points off the pace.

However, 15 points from number one Doyle and a paid 13 from Morris, which included two maximums in the last three heats, dragged Swindon to a vital point in their 49-43 defeat.

“It’s a tough place to come to and not many people have got anything here this year,” said Rossiter.

“I thought Nick and Jason were outstanding.

“It was looking a bit grim when they led by 14 points but you have got to keep believing. There was a fantastic 5-1 with a great race from Jason and Nick in heat 13.

“For Nick to pass Freddie the way he did, twice, and to get back past him, is full credit to him.

“He is riding well and that’s really pleasing to see, especially when people were complaining about him coming back this year.

“All in all, I am relatively pleased. We need to do better but it will come.”

Bradley Wilson-Dean was ruled out as he continues to struggle with his hand injury as Swindon used the rider replacement rule.

Freddie Lindgren, who has recorded five straight maximums in the Premiership, pipped Doyle to the first bend in heat one and kept the advantage all the way around for a 4-2 to open with.

However, there was an immediate response as Dany Gappmaier made the most of Mark Riss heading into bend one too hot and when Nathan Greaves got out of shape on the back straight of the last lap, Zach Watjknecht climbed to second to give Swindon a maximum return and the lead.

When Jacob Thorssell left the line with the tapes wrapped around his neck in heat three, it looked like Swindon would extend their advantage, but the Swede had other ideas as he darted past David Bellego into bend three of the opening lap, before taking Adam Ellis by surprise on lap two for a maximum.

Wolves further extended their lead in heat six as Lindgren continued his fine form to lead Morris from the front, with the Aussie fighting hard in lap one to keep Kyle Howarth behind him.

A maximum in heat seven from Sam Masters and Riss saw Wolves take control of the tie, before Howarth’s first win of the evening saw the hosts take a 10 point lead.

Morris’ win in heat nine saw a share of the spoils but Wolves were all but out of sight after heat 10 as a super start from Lindgren gave him a third heat win and despite Howarth struggling out of bend four, Wolves secured another maximum.

Doyle was handed the tactical ride in heat 11 but Masters got the jump on him and in the skipper’s desperation for the lead, the Aussie almost put the bike down in bend one.

However, he recovered for a second place finish for four points and give Swindon a first heat advantage since the second race.

Swindon showed some fight at the start of heat 12 as Ellis and Gappmaier closed the door on Schlein into bend one to set up a maximum, but it was short lived as the Austrian fell to the back swiftly and Ellis was caught out of the final bend for a heat loss.

The heat of the meeting came in 13 as Doyle and Morris claimed a maximum, with the latter in a cracking battle with the Wolves number one for second spot.

The gap remained at 10 points heading into the final race, but the Aussie pair teamed up again and when they closed the door on Schlein into bend one, there was no looking back as the clinched a much-needed point.

“If we can start getting a few more going, we’ll be okay,” added Rossiter.

“In fairness, it was David’s first appearance here, he had never ridden here before, so it took him a while to get going.

“Adam started showing a little bit more go in him now and Dany rode well and Zach had a great night too.

“We didn’t realise how important Zach’s third place in heat 14 was until now.”