Robins fall at Poole 49-41

Speedway v PooleStart line girls watch the action

Alun Rossiter

Poole V Swindon Speedway

SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter admitted to mixed emotions – and a degree of frustration – after a 49-41 defeat at Poole on Monday.

Chris Holder leads the way into bend 1 at the Abbey in an earlier meeting

The result from a match raced in wet conditions at Wimborne Road, which forced a temporary stoppage midway through, puts the Pirates in pole position to secure top place in the Elite League table, and therefore gain choice of opponents in the play-off semi-finals.

Rossiter felt his side could and should have secured at least a point, especially as the scores were level at 36-36 with three races to go.

Hans Andersen on the start line at the Abbey

But the home side’s big guns dominated the closing stages, with Krzysztof Kasprzak and Chris Holder regaining the lead for the Pirates with a 5-1 in Heat 13 after Hans Andersen and Nick Morris had drawn the Robins all-square two races earlier.

Swindon could have levelled again in Heat 14 only for recent Poole signing Piotr Pawlicki to pull off a stunning overtake on Jason Doyle and Dawid Lampart – and with Holder winning Heat 15 backed up by paid maximum man Darcy Ward, it meant the Robins left Dorset point-less.

Krzysztof Kasprzaj Jason Doyle and Peter Kildemand during the reverse fixture at the Abbey

They now trail Poole by five points, but will close the gap back to two if they can take maximum points against Lakeside at Blunsdon on Thursday – and top spot will then come down to how the sides fare in their respective trips to Birmingham next week.

Rossiter said: “It’s hard to know whether to be disappointed or frustrated about not coming away with anything, but I’m certainly not disappointed with the efforts of the boys. Conditions were difficult for both teams.

Nick Morris against Poole at the Abbey

“We really should have got a point but I can’t blame the riders, they all gave it their best. We’ll re-group for Thursday, the ball is out of our court now for finishing top but we’ll be going out there to do the best we can.”

POOLE 49: Darcy Ward 14+1, Chris Holder 13+1, Krzysztof Kasprzak 10, Piotr Pawlicki 5+1, Ricky Kling 3, Sam Masters 2+1, Linus Eklof 2.