SWINDON Robins cemented their place at the top of the SGB Premiership with a crushing 65-25 win over Peterborough Panthers on Thursday night.

Their second consecutive home score of above 60 points – after dismantling Ipswich Witches 66-24 on Bank Holiday Monday – saw Alun Rossiter’s men sign their regular home season off with three more potentially vital points as they aim to secure an end-of-season play-off place.

While not matching the 66 points they scored on Monday night, the Robins did record nine heat maximums on their way to sweeping aside a struggling Peterborough outfit.

Troy Batchelor – who turned 32 on Thursday – recorded a paid maximum 14+1 to cap off a special day for the Australian while reserve Ellis Perks netted two rider of the night’s in a row thanks to a 7+1 performance that featured plenty of speed and determination.

Skipper Jason Doyle also scored a paid maximum on the night.

Before the meeting, team manager Alun Rossiter said he had faith in his reserve pair to produce more match-winning performances, and on their showing over the course of the evening, he was absolutely right to.

After an opening heat 4-2 in favour of the home side, Perks looked particularly determined to prove his boss right.

He and Claus Vissing hit the front first and never looked back as the reserve pair produced the Robins’ first 5-1 of many.

Another 4-2 to Swindon followed in the third before Vissing featured in the next race to see a 5-1 – the fourth heat.

Former British champion Scott Nicholls seemed to be unhappy about something at the start and didn't really make an effort to get away fast.

As a result, it was left to his reserve teammate Jason Garrity to hold off Vissing, but Jason Garrity was ultimately unable and the Robins recorded their second 5-1 in the opening four heats.

Rohan Tungate responded for the visitors in heat five as his victory secured the first 3-3 of the night.

The visiting rider tucked into the dirt line and passed Jensen with a lovely, flowing move around the outside while Guest Nick Morris kept his nose ahead of Ty Proctor.

In heat seven, the Robins began a string of races that produced four 5-1s out of five.

Although it ended in the best possible outcome, both Doyle and Ellis made a mess of the start and were forced to work from the back.

Ellis showed tremendous speed to undertake Ostergaard while Doyle almost immediately followed suit.

Nicholls was then promptly passed by Ellis before Doyle cut down the inside on the home straight to secure a thrilling 5-1 for the Robins.

The domination continued for the home side in heat seven as Perks zipped around the Abbey like a figure skater to keep up with birthday boy Batchelor and slot another 5-1 in the bank for the Robins.

Heat eight featured a 4-2 that Ellis headed up while the ninth heat saw a resumption of the 5-1 scoreline.

Jensen hit the front and never looked in any danger of being caught, but the race was all about the efforts of Swindon’s guest Nick Morris.

Morris was brought in due to Tobiasz Musielak riding in an FIM international event in Russia, and the former Swindon skipper had a respectable night at the Abbey.

At the back for a lap or two, Morris produced a sensationally brave move to squeeze between Nicholls and Ulrich Ostergaard and steal second.

Another 5-1 in heat 10 preceded a drawn heat 11 before the Panthers ensured they would not leave Wiltshire without inflicting some pain on the Robins.

Often a thorn in the home team’s side, Charles Wright picked up the Panthers' second heat win of the evening and their first heat advantage in heat 11.

Batchelor made it four wins from four outings in heat 12 though as the Australian pair stormed away for a simple 5-1.

Rossiter’s men finished with a flourish too as Perks held off the attentions of in-form Tungate to secure second while Morris was rewarded for a determined showing with his first race win of the night.

The hat-trick of heat maximums followed in heat 15 as Adam Ellis denied Batchelor a birthday maximum by winning the final heat.

Another race that was won from the gate ensured the Robins continued to hit top form at exactly the right time ahead of a crucial final month of racing.