SWINDON produced their best performance of the season to sensationally beat Poole 49-43 at the Abbey Stadium.

It was a stunning display by the Robins against the Elite League Championship favourites and although it was their first of the year the victory was well-deserved.

Scott Nicholls was in good form top-scoring with 14-points and the Great Britain star was ably backed by recent new signings Jesper B Monberg with 10+3 and Nicolai Klindt 10+1.

The Pirates edged ahead 11-7 in the early stages, but the Wiltshiremen drew level with a maximum from Monberg and Cory Gathercole in heat 4.

Successive 5-1s then put the Robins 22-14 in front and it was a position they were to never relinquish.

Poole did claw the deficit back with a couple of 4-2s, but when their lead was threatened the Robins responded well and Nicholls and Monberg’s five-pointer in heat 10 increased the home advantage to 35-25.

Chris Holder’s double-point second place behind Nicholls in heat 10 did again momentarily threaten the home side’s winning position, but another maximum from Nicholls and Maciej Janowski in heat 13 put them within touching distance of victory as they led 45-35.

And that was confirmed when Janowski and Gathercole earned a share of the points behind race winner Jason Doyle in heat 14.

SWINDON 49: Scott Nicholls 14, Jesper B Monberg 10+3, Nicolai Klindt 10+1, Maciej Janowki 8+1, Cory Gathercole 7+2, Justin Sedgmen 0, Simon Stead R/R

POOLE 43: Chris Holder 12, Darcy Ward 10+2, Jason Doyle 8, Renat Gafurov 4, Stuart Robson 4, Christian Hefenbrock 3+1, Davey Watt 2