IN their concluding home Elite League fixture of the 2010 campaign, Swindon fell to a slender two-point defeat against in-form Coventry.

Competing in his final Abbey Stadium league fixture, Robins’ Legend Leigh Adams headed the Swindon scoring with a fourteen-point haul.

SWINDON
Leigh Adams (C) 3 3 2 3 3 - - 14
Mads Korneliussen 1 2* 0 3 0 - - 6 (1)
Grzegorz Zengota R/R
Jason Lyons 0 3 1 1 0 - - 5
Simon Stead 3 2 3 0 2* - - 10 (1)
Cory Gathercole 0 0 0 2 - - - 2
Justin Sedgmen 3 2 1 0 1 R - 7
Team manager: Ronnie Russell

COVENTRY
Hans Andersen 2 1 2 2 - - - 7
Richard Sweetman R 0 1* 0 - - - 1 (1)
Ben Barker 1 1 3 3 0 - - 8
Edward Kennett 3 3 1 3 - - - 10
Chris Harris (C) 2 2 3 1* 1 - - 9 (1)
Lewis Bridger 2 1* 2 2* - - - 7 (2)
Aaron Summers 1* 0 2* 1 - - - 4 (2)
Team manager: Alun Rossiter
Referee: Phil Griffin

Ht 1: Adams, Andersen, Korneliussen, Sweetman (ret), 65.77 (4-2)
Ht 2: Sedgmen, Bridger, Summers, Gathercole, 67.09 (7-5)
Ht 3: Kennett, Sedgmen, Barker, Lyons, 67.36 (9-9)
Ht 4: Stead, Harris, Sedgmen, Summers, 66.33 (13-11)
Ht 5: Lyons, Korneliussen, Andersen, Sweetman, 67.08 (18-12)
Ht 6: (Re-Run) Adams, Harris, Bridger, Korneliussen, 66.58 (21-15)
Ht 7: Kennett, Stead, Barker, Gathercole, 67.59 (23-19)
Ht 8: Korneliussen, Bridger, Sweetman, Sedgmen, 68.11 (26-22)
Ht 9: Harris, Summers, Lyons, Gathercole, 67.92 (27-27)
Ht 10: Barker, Adams, Kennett, Korneliussen, 67.02 (29-31)
Ht 11: Stead, Andersen, Sedgmen, Sweetman, 67.40 (33-33)
Ht 12: Barker, Bridger, Lyons, Sedgmen (ret), 67.71 (34-38)
Ht 13: Adams, Andersen, Harris, Stead, 66.83 (37-41)
Ht 14: Kennett, Gathercole, Summers, Lyons, 68.36 (39-45)
Ht 15: (Nominated) Adams (r), Stead (b), Harris (w), Barker (y), 67.37 (44-46)

Programme changes:
Ht 3: R/R Sedgmen; Ht 5: R/R Korneliussen; Ht 8: Bridger replaced Summers; Ht 9: R/R Gathercole; Summers replaced Bridger; Ht 11: Sedgmen replaced Gathercole; Ht 12: R/R Lyons.

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

This entertaining contest was laced with top-notch racing throughout and produced some scintillating Abbey Stadium action.

Despite their fast-approaching Play Off Semi-Final second leg tie at Peterborough on Monday, Coventry rode with tenacity and determination throughout.

Indeed, some of the on-track action was arguably the best seen at Blunsdon this term. In particular a brilliant heat seven tussle between Simon Stead and Edward Kennett which saw the likeable British duo indulge in a memorable four-lap duel.

It was, however, an emotional night for Swindon fans as Leigh Adams competed in his final home Elite League meeting.

The affectionately nicknamed ‘Sultan of Slide’ rode with trademark professionalism and would have notched a maximum points haul if it hadn’t of been for a spirited late charge from Coventry’s Ben Barker in heat ten.

Fittingly Adams registered a comfortable heat fifteen win and brought proceedings to a perfect conclusion.

The Robins were without their dynamic Polish duo of Grzegorz Zengota and Maciek Janowski, both of whom were competing in the Golden Helmet meeting in their homeland.

Veteran Australian Jason Lyons was drafted in as a guest inclusion for Janowski whilst the rider replacement facility was utilised for Zengota. Elsewhere, popular Australian Justin Sedgmen joined fellow Milduran Cory Gathercole in the Swindon reserve department.

Coventry drafted in Hans Andersen as a guest for Krzysztof Kasprzak whilst Aaron Summers replaced Przemysław Pawlicki at No.7.

Leigh Adams headed the Robins’ score-card with a well deserved fourteen point contribution. The Australian received solid support from Simon Stead who amassed a paid eleven point total whilst Mads Korneliussen (6+1) and Justin Segdmen (7) carded useful totals.

The latter produced an impressive Blunsdon display and showed some lightening fast gating skills in the early stages to head the chasing pack.

Coventry turned in a solid team display with sturdy totals from Chris Harris, Edward Kennett and Lewis Bridger providing the foundations of their success.

Swindon constructed a six-point lead in the middle sector of the contest, but Coventry came on strongly in the latter stages to gain the ascendancy.

A Bees’ 4-2 in the penultimate race handed Alun Rossiter’s side a six-point unassailable lead. A 5-1 from Leigh Adams and Simon Stead in the concluding race finished proceedings in fine style and shuffled Swindon’s total to 44.

Adams looked silky smooth out-front and after romping to victory, completed a post-race celebratory lap in front of the appreciative Robins’ crowd.