SWINDON’S exit from the Knockout Cup was confirmed with a 55-41 defeat at Poole on Wednesday evening.

The Robins went into their quarter-final second leg trailing by thirty-four points following last week’s heavy defeat at the Abbey Stadium, and the Pirates comfortably wrapped up the tie 117-69 on aggregate.

It was, however, an improved team performance from last week’s home leg and there was also a good individual display from Nicolai Klindt who top-scored with 14+1. Skipper Simon Stead also had some decent rides in his 10-point tally.

The Dorset men were never seriously troubled though and led 30-18 after eight races.

Stead then won his double-points ride in Heat 9 ahead of Davey Watt and Jason Doyle with the resulting 6-3 reducing the deficit to 33-24.

The Pirates responded by increasing their advantage to 48-33 following the completion of Heat 13, but another tactical ride – this time from Nicolai Klindt in Heat 14 – helped salvage some pride for the Robins. Cory Gathercole was third and just ten-points separated the two teams going into the final race.

But home favourites Chris Holder and Darcy Ward finished off the night in style with a 5-1 and it’s the Pirates who will go onto meet Eastbourne or Wolverhampton in the semi-finals.

POOLE 55: Chris Holder 15, Darcy Ward 13+2, Davey Watt 11, Jason Doyle 7+1, Renat Gafurov 7+1, Kyle Newman 1, Kyle Howarth 1, Dennis Andersson R/R
SWINDON 41: Nikolai Klindt 14+1, Simon Stead 10, Scott Nicholls 7, Cory Gathercole 5+1, Kenny Ingalls 3+3, Justin Sedgmen 2, Maciej Janowski R/R