SWINDON have made a triumphant start to the season by beating rivals Poole to win the Elite League Shield.

The Excalibur Communications Robins, who edged out the Pirates for league glory last October, won 98-83 on aggregate after a narrow 46-43 defeat in Dorset on Good Friday.

New signing Eddie Kennett shone with a 10+1 haul in a solid all-round Swindon display.

And club owner Gary Patchett said: “It’s a great feeling to see the boys carry on where they left off last season and it sets us up nicely for the Elite League campaign now.

“Myself and Rosco (team manager Alun Rossiter) are proud of all the boys and hope we can keep it going.

“Obviously Poole will get stronger as the season goes on, it’s very early of course, but it’s nice to see our boys hitting the ground running.

“And it’s also very nice that our new sponsors, Excalibur Communications, have seen us win something so early into their time with us.”

Now Patchett is hoping to see bigger numbers on the terraces for the launch of Swindon’s league campaign next Thursday, April 4 against Lakeside Hammers.

POOLE: Darcy Ward 13+1, Chris Holder 10+1, Alex Davies 8+1, Maciej Janowski 6, Dawid Stachyra 5+1, Kyle Howarth 3+1, Robert Miskowiak 1.

SWINDON: Edward Kennett 10+1, Peter Kildemand 9+3, Hans Andersen 8, Kacper Gomolski 7, Nick Morris 6, Troy Batchelor 2, Kyle Newman 1+1.
Swindon win 98-83 on aggregate.