SWINDON have been left licking their wounds after a bruising Bank Holiday battle with reigning champions Poole at the Abbey.

The meeting was cut short by two races due to the amount of treatment needed for the M&S Van Rental Robins riders and the visitors ran out 47-33 winners after 13 heats to claim all four league points.

Boss Alun Rossiter was clearly shocked after the meeting, which was delayed slightly to allow a bumper crowd to see the first heat.

He said: “I can’t believe what’s happened, I’m shocked to be honest and I really don’t know what to say.

“Troy Batchelor has mild concussion and rib damage, Lewis Rose has an ankle problem and Adrian Miedzinski has three broken fingers and a badly cut other finger which is quite serious.

“The boys gave it their all and we tried our best, but it’s hard enough against a side like Poole with a full strength side, without losing three riders!

“I want to thank the fans who came to support us, I’m sure they appreciate it was one of those days. Unreal, really.”

Now Rossiter is facing a challenge to pull his side together for the visit of Lakeside, including returning Swedish Grand Prix star Andreas Jonsson, to the Abbey this Thursday.

SWINDON 33: Nick Morris 9+1, Kyle Howarth 8, Grzegorz Zengota 7+1, Lewis Rose 5+1, Charles Wright 2, Adrian Miedzinski 2, T.Batchelor 0;

POOLE 47: Kyle Newman 10+1, Kacper Gomolski 8+1, Maciej Janowski 8+1, Josh Grajczonek 7+1, Chris Holder 7, Dakota North 5+1, Paul Starke 2+1.

Abandoned after 13 heats - medical cover - Result will stand

Elite League points: Swindon 0 Poole 4.