ROBINS failed to return to the top of the Sky Sports Elite League after an astonishing night of racing at Coventry.

A severely-weakened Swindon, without the injured Troy Batchelor, Seb Alden and Manuel Hauzinger, threatened a shock success at the league's bottom club when they raced into an 11-point lead just five heats in.

But a tactical ride maximum by skipper Chris Harris turned the tide in Bees' favour as their Great Britain riders slowly found form.

Harris carded 16 points and fellow Team GB riders Simon Stead and ex-Swindon man Olly Allen also weighed in.

Leigh Adams (11) and Mads Korneliussen (paid 11) were heavy scorers for Swindon, but their challenge faded despite a creditable paid seven from guest reserve Krzysztof Stojanowski, who with Berwick's Paul Clews, stood in for Alden and Hauzinger.

MATCH DETAILS

COVENTRY BEES 52

Chris Harris: (2-6-3-2-3) 16; Billy Janniro: (1*-2*-2-0) 5+2; Simon Stead: (1-1-2*-3) 7+1; Olly Allen: (0-0-3-3) 6; Rory Schlein: (1-1-3-1*) 6+1; Ben Barker: (3-3-1*-F-1-2*-2*) 12+3; Andreas Messing: (0-F-withdrew)

SWINDON ROBINS 41

Leigh Adams: (3-3-2-3) 11; Rider replacement: (KS, JW, MK, TM); Mads Korneliussen: (2*-2-3-2-0-1) 10+1; James Wright: (3-2*-0-1*-1-0) 7+2; Travis McGowan: (3-1-1-1*-0) 6+1; Paul Clews (guest): (1*-0-0) 1+1; Krzysztof Stojanowski (guest): 0-2-2*-0-2-0) 6+1

HEAT DETAILS

Heat 1: Adams, Harris, Janniro, Stojanowski, 59.4 (3-3)

Heat 2: Barker, Stojanowski, Clews, Messing, 60.8 (6-6)

Heat 3: Wright, Korneliussen, Stead, Allen, 61.5 (7-11)

Heat 4: McGowan, Stojanowski, Schlein, 61.2 (8-16)

Heat 5: Adams, Wright, Stead, Allen, 60.8 (9-21)

Heat 6: Harris (tac ride), Janniro, McGowan, Clews, 60.5 (17-22)

Heat 7: Barker, Korneliussen, Schlein, Wright, 62.9 (21-24)

Heat 8: Korneliussen, Janniro, Barker, Stojanowski, 62.8 (24-27)

Heat 9: Allen, Stead, McGowan, Clews, 63.4 (29-28)

Heat 10: Harris, Korneliussen, Wright, Janniro, 62.3 (32-31)

Heat 11: Schlein, Adams, McGowan, Barker, 62.9 (35-34)

Heat 12: Stead, Stojanowski, Barker, Korneliussen, 64.8 (39-36)

Heat 13: Adams, Harris, Schlein, McGowan, 63.8 (42-39)

Heat 14: Allen, Barker, Wright, Stojanowski, 65.4 (47-40)

Ht 15: Harris, Barker, Korneliussen, Wright, 64.1 (52-41)