BATTLING Swindon slipped to a 47-43 defeat against Elite League play-off chasers King’s Lynn on Thursday night at the Abbey.

The Robins will be disappointed with the loss particularly considering they led in the early stages, but the impressive Stars clawed their way back into the match and won it with one heat to spare.
J
an Staechmann’s side made the best possible start with a 5-1 from guest Lee Richardson and Jesper Monberg in Heat 1, but Niels-Kristian Iversen and Sam Masters levelled things up in race 4.

The Norfolk side then took the lead in Heat 6, only for the Robins to draw level again courtesy of a 4-2 from Simon Stead and Cory Gathercole in Heat 7.

Stead and Maciej Janowski took the chequered flag to give the Robins a share of the points in races 11 and 12, but the decisive moment came with the scores tied at 36-36 in the clash of the big guns in Heat 13. Iversen went from third to first on the opening lap and Stars guest Rory Schlein just got the better following a great batlle with Richardson on the line.

This gave the visitors a 5-1 and a 41-37 lead and they wrapped up the victory on the night with a 4-2 in Heat 14.

SWINDON 43: Lee Richardson 11, Maciej Janowski 7+1, Simon Stead 7, Kozza Smith 6, Nikolai Klindt 5+1, Jesper B Monberg 4+3, Cory Gathercole 3

KING’S LYNN 47: Niels Kristian Iversen 12, Rory Schlein 10+1, Oliver Allen 10, Filip Sitera 7+2, Sam Masters 5+1, David Howe 3, Mads Korneliussen 0