DESPITE starting strongly, Swindon fell to a 51-39 defeat at Belle Vue. A paid twelve point contribution from in-form Simon Stead headed the Robins' scoring.




BELLE VUE
Hans Andersen (C) 1* 2 3 2* - - - 8 (2)
James Wright 2 0 1 1 - - - 4
Patrick Hougaard 3 2 2 1* 3 1* - 12 (2)
Tobias Kroner R/R
Peter Karlsson 1 3 3 3 2 - - 12
Josh Grajczonek 3 2* 0 0 0 - - 5 (1)
Leigh Lanham 2* 0 3 1* 2 2* - 10 (3)
Team manager: Chris Morton

SWINDON
Leigh Adams (C) 3 3 2 1 - - - 9
Morten Risager 0 1 0 - - - - 1
Grzegorz Zengota 0 1* 2 0 - - - 3 (1)
Mads Korneliussen 1 2 0 1 - - - 4
Simon Stead 2* 3 3 0 3 - - 11 (1)
Jordan Frampton 0 1 D - - - - 1
Thomas H. Jonasson 1 3 2 1* 3 D 0 10 (1)
Team manager: Ronnie Russell
Referee: Darren Hartley

Ht 1: Adams, Wright, Andersen, Risager, 59.4 (3-3)
Ht 2: Grajczonek, Lanham, Jonasson, Frampton, 62.0 (8-4)
Ht 3: Hougaard, Grajczonek, Korneliussen, Zengota, 61.0 (13-5)
Ht 4: Jonasson, Stead, Karlsson, Lanham, 61.2 (14-10)
Ht 5: Adams, Hougaard, Risager, Grajczonek, 58.8 (16-14)
Ht 6: Stead, Andersen, Frampton, Wright, 60.0 (18-18)
Ht 7: Karlsson, Korneliussen, Zengota, Grajczonek, 60.6 (21-21)
Ht 8: Lanham, Jonasson, Wright, Risager, 60.4 (25-23)
Ht 9: (Re-Run) Stead, Hougaard, Lanham, Frampton (f, disq), 60.0 (28-26)
Ht 10: Andersen, Zengota, Wright, Korneliussen, 60.3 (32-28)
Ht 11: Karlsson, Adams, Jonasson, Grajczonek, 59.8 (35-31)
Ht 12: Jonasson, Lanham, Hougaard, Zengota, 61.2 (38-34)
Ht 13: Karlsson, Andersen, Adams, Stead, 60.7 (43-35)
Ht 14: (Re-Run) Hougaard, Lanham, Korneliussen, Jonasson (f, disq), 61.3 (48-36)
Ht 15: (Nominated) Stead (w), Karlsson (r), Hougaard (b), Jonasson (y), 60.5 (51-39)

Programme changes:
Ht 3: R/R Grajczonek; Ht 5: R/R Grajczonek; Ht 9: R/R Lanham; Ht 11: Jonasson replaced Risager; Ht 12: Jonasson replaced Frampton; Ht 14: R/R Hougaard; Lanham replaced Grajczonek.

NOTE: Under the league scoring system, Belle Vue gained 3 points and Swindon received 0.

Swindon suffered their third loss in succession as Manchester’s Belle Vue Aces collected victory in this a fast-paced Elite league clash.

The Robins started the meeting in fine fashion and with the two sides having both notched 21-point totals after seven heats of action, the encounter looked to be heading for a tight conclusion.

However, Swindon’s charge faltered in the latter stages as Ronnie Russell’s side conceded consecutive 5-1 race advantages in heats thirteen and fourteen. That late surge from Belle Vue limited Swindon’s tactical opportunities and eradicated the chance of any Elite league points returning to Wiltshire.

Robins’ reserve Thomas H Jonasson made an explosive return to action after his month long break from action. The talented Swedish youngster amassed a well acquired eleven point score from a hectic seven-ride schedule. Indeed, Jonasson was right amongst the action from the outset and certainly injected some potency into the Robins’ reserve department.

Meanwhile, Simon Stead continued his rich vein of form as he made a successful return to his former club. The Swindon heat-leader displayed scintillating speed and formed the foundations of the Robins’ scoring. Meanwhile, captain Leigh Adams notched nine points from his four rides and started the evening with two race wins.

Grzegorz Zengota and Mads Korneliussen conjured four-point returns, whilst Morten Risager’s poor run continued as he notched just a solitary point.

Belle Vue were well served by Danish youngster Patrick Hougaard whose paid fourteen point haul underpinned the Aces’ success. Big guns Hans Andersen and Peter Karlsson weighed in with characteristically impressive hauls. Perhaps most crucial was the combined paid nineteen point score from the Belle Vue reserve pairing of Josh Grajczonek and Leigh Lanham.

Swindon team-manager Ronnie Russell said:

“During the early part of the meeting we were in contention and the score-line was very tight, indeed.

However, our grasp on the encounter slipped in the latter stages and it is ultimately very disappointing to leave Manchester empty handed.

Monday’s result once again highlighted our vulnerabilities, it is these weaknesses which we are continuing to address.”