IT’S no use arriving to the Abbey Stadium at 7.30pm on Thursday for the SGB Premiership title decider, because you simply won’t get in.

That’s the message Swindon Robins chief Alun Rossiter passionately relayed to the public following Tuesday night’s remarkable 41-49 grand final first leg win at Foxhall Stadium over Ipswich Witches.

Tongue-in-cheek it might be, but the 54-year-old Penhill-born boss had every right to boast a beaming smile following heat 15 of the final’s first leg.

Level with five heats remaining, Robins excelled in the meeting’s final third – claiming four race advantages to Witches’ one.

Eight seasons have passed since a team last surrendered a first leg advantage greater than eight points – on that occasion Poole Pirates overturned Eastbourne Eagles 98-85 having lost the opening leg 49-41.

But that doesn’t mean Rossiter is taking anything granted. For him, the job is far from done.

He said: “I’m happy with that, very, very happy.

“The track looked quite heavy, but it never phased them. Full credit to the boys, they were all fantastic.

“I tip my hat off to all of them. They won the important races, and I would’ve been happy to win by two points.

“I’m not tempting fate, but to win in front of our home crowd would be nice. We’ve never done that, every time we’ve won it has been away from home.”

Swindon are unbeaten at home in the Premiership this season – only Poole Pirates have escaped the Abbey without a defeat after they earned a draw in April.

Ipswich have pushed the Robins hard at home once, recording a 46-44 loss in July before suffering an embarrassing 66-24 defeat in August – the biggest margin win of the Premiership this season.

Rossiter’s golden septet should therefore enter Thursday’s second leg brimming with confidence.

He added: “We should be confident on our home track, we’re riding it well and beating teams comfortably.

“Let’s dream the dream. A league and cup double is the dream.

“People of Swindon, we need you – I really want the fans to turn out in force and support us.

“Get to the Abbey early, it’s no good coming at 7.30pm – you won’t get in. Let’s all get behind the boys.”