REPORT: Battling Swindon Robins caught out by superior Poole Pirates in Dorset

The Pirates used their home track knowledge to their advantage and pulled off a series of breath taking twards the meeting's conclusion, much to the delight of a strong and vocal home crowd. 

The Robins made a strong start to the meeting when Frenchman David Bellego won from tapes to flag in heat one, Troy Batchelor’s third place meant the visitors opened up an early two-point advantage.

Pirates quickly pegged the score level as Polish reserve Kacper Woryna won heat two ahead of Zach Wajtknecht and Poole guest Mark Riss.

There was drama in heat three when Tobiasz Musielak was excluded after he crashed through the tapes when under orders from gate. His exclusion prompted team manager Alun Rossiter to use the 15 metre handicap option – from which the Pole couldn’t find a way past Richie Worrall as Josh Grajczonek secured a 4-2 for the hosts.

Nick Morris kept the throttle open in heat four to round Mark Riss and Chris Harris in a tight backstraight as Robins’ deficit remained at two points by the first track break. A further shared race in heat five ensured Pirates remained two points ahead with a third of the meeting completed.

However a return to form for Brady Kurtz after Nick Morris twitched while under orders saw the hosts stretch their advantage to four points as Josh Grajczonek filled in for third place.

Disaster struck in heat seven when Musielak and Ellis tangled on turn three and were both sent crashing into the air fence at high speed.

The pair were holding second and third comfortably when Musielak tried to get around the outside of his teammate in an attempt to reach race leader Chris Harris.

Musielak’s daring move took a turn for the worst though when he clipped Ellis’ back wheel, resulting in both Robins hitting the deck at high speed.

Ellis quickly rose to his knees before sheepishly walking back to the pits while Musielak required assistance to get back to his base.

Remarkably, 12 minutes after being buried in the air fence, Ellis defeated both Harris and the previously unbeaten Woryna in the re-run to keep Robins’ deficit at four points.

David Bellego bided his time to cut back on Pirates reserve Mark Riss in heat eight, though a win for Josh Grajczonek meant the home side secured their fourth race advantage of the night – meaning the led by six points.

That result prompted Alun Rossiter to deploy his tactical substitute in heat nine with Troy Batchelor replacing Zach Wajtknecht.

The move paid dividends as Batchelor rounded Woryna – who initially made the start – to secure Robins’ second race advantage of the night.

Musielak remarkably returned to the tapes in heat 10 despite his horror spill just half-an-hour earlier.

However, his return was short lived when he smashed through the tapes for a second time, meaning he picked up his third exclusion.

Jack Smith took the replacement ride, but his and Ellis’ efforts weren’t sufficient enough to stop home pair Kurtz and Grajczonek as Pirates secured their first 5-1 of the night.

An eight-point lead at the interval was maintained by the Pirates after heat 11 as Chris Harris won ahead of Batchelor and Bellego.

A win for Adam Ellis in heat 12 reduced Robins’ deficit to six points with reserve Zach Wajtknecht picking up a handy third place.

The clash of both teams’ big guns in heat 13 saw Chris Harris pull off one of the moves of the season when rounding Troy Batchelor on the final turn to secure a 5-1 for Poole, a move which meant Robins could only earn a consolation bonus point with two heats remaining.

Hoping to head back to Wiltshire with a point, Robins held a 3-3 in the night’s penultimate race.

But that quickly changed when Richie Worrall cut back on Zach Wajtknecht before rounding Musielak in one breath taking move.

It stretched Pirates’ lead to 14 points, meaning heat 15 had nothing but pride riding on it.

The race saw Harris and Batchelor trade blows, with Harris eventually coming out on top - ending an entertaining night of speedway.