BRAVE Swindon went agonisingly close to a consolation point in their 49-41 defeat at Poole on Monday.

The reigning champions went into the meeting without Poole track specialist Peter Kildemand who is hoping to return when the sides meet at the Abbey on Thursday.

And the Excalibur Communications Robins were ahead with just six races to go on a hot afternoon in front of a bumper crowd and the Sky cameras.

But when Thomas H Jonasson was joined by Darcy Ward in Heat 10 it turned the meeting in Poole's favour.

Alun Rossiter's men needed a 4-2 in the last race to claim a league point but they had to go from the unfavourable gate positions and Ward duly obliged to keep the home side's play-off hopes alive.

Said Rossiter: "It was unfortunate that we had the outside gates in the last race but that's speedway.

"I'm proud of the efforts of the boys, especially without Peter who was a major player in us winning the league here against Poole last year.

"I rested him because he's just not the same rider, he was a shadow of his normal self in the GP Challenge on Saturday but hopefully he will be back with us at home on Thursday."

POOLE 49: Greg Hancock 11+1, Darcy Ward 10+1, Tomas H Jonasson 8+1, Josh Grajczonek 8+1, Maciej Janowski 8, Rohan Tungate 3, Micky Dyer 1.

SWINDON 41: Troy Batchelor 10+1, Kyle Howarth 9+1, Hans Andersen 8+2, Edward Kennett 7+1, Nick Morris 5, Kyle Newman 2+2, Peter Kildemand R/R.