Swindon Robins salvaged a 45-45 draw from a topsy-turvy Easter Sunday Premiership encounter with great rivals Poole.
In front of a bumper holiday crowd, the Carpets4Less Robins raced into an early eight-point lead before being reeled back in by the Pirates in a match of ever-changing track and weather conditions.
Former Robins skipper Hans Andersen looked as though he may have anchored the visitors to victory with his win over Nick Morris and Jason Doyle in Heat 13, which left his side four points to the good.
But the Robins stormed back with two 4-2s, and still could have salvaged victory but for Brady Kurtz splitting David Bellego and Emil Grondal in Heat 14 – whilst Andersen had to work overtime in the decider to hold off the challenge of Doyle as Morris escaped clear at the front in slippery conditions due to late-match rain.
Doyle and Bradley Wilson-Dean got the Robins off to a perfect start with maximum points over Krzysztof Kasprzak, and the hugely impressive Bellego won each of his opening two outings to maintain control for the home side.
Doyle pulled off a terrific ride to catch and pass Andersen to win Heat 6, which put the Robins 22-14 up, but the mid-stages of the meeting saw the Pirates fight back.
With Nicolai Klindt a key figure at reserve, they pulled off 5-1s in Heats 8 and 12, and Kasprzak took advantage of mechanical trouble for Morris on the start-line of Heat 11, all of which left Poole 38-34 ahead with three races to go.
The visitors would have been satisfied with a share in Heat 13 as Andersen rode strongly to clamp off Morris’s inside challenge, but the two late Swindon 4-2s at least ensured they took some reward from the meeting.
Boss Alun Rossiter said: “I think a draw was probably fair but it’s mixed emotions because we really could have won it, and it’s a bit frustrating that we didn’t although I couldn’t fault the commitment from the guys.
“We knew Poole would come back strongly, especially with Nicolai down at reserve, but there was some good character from our boys, with Nick stepping up to the plate again, and David Bellego was outstanding.
“Doyley gave it 110 per cent, I couldn’t ask for any more, and there are some good signs from the others but we need to get it all together.
“Adam (Ellis) has nothing wrong with his wrist, but he’s struggling with his motors at the moment. There’s no pain from the wrist but he knows he has to do something with his engines.”
Robins return to action on Friday with a trip to Premiership newcomers, with the next Abbey action featuring the Sprockets on May 11th.
SWINDON 45: Jason Doyle 11+1, David Bellego 11, Nick Morris 10, Emil Grondal 5+1, Bradley Wilson-Dean 4+1, Zach Wajtknecht 3+1, Adam Ellis 1.
POOLE 45: Hans Andersen 13, Nicolai Klindt 9+1, Brady Kurtz 8, Lewis Kerr 5+2, Krzysztof Kasprzak 5+1, Jack Holder 5+1, Darryl Ritchings 0.
