SWINDON put in a professional showing in difficult circumstances to overcome Leicester 51-39 at the Abbey Stadium on Thursday.

The M&S Van Rental Robins riders got the job done to move to the brink of the Elite League play-offs in their first match as a team since No.1 Darcy Ward suffered serious injuries in Poland last Sunday.

Ward has now been transferred to hospital in the UK where he will continue to receive the best possible care and rehabilitation programme, and information on his condition will only be released according to his family’s wishes.

In his absence, the Robins conceded a 5-1 in the first race but quickly stepped up the mark against a Lions team who were well-served by two ex-Swindon riders, Jason Doyle at No.1 and guest Steve Worrall at reserve.

The duo both won three races which prevented the Robins from running away with the meeting, despite another brilliant showing from Polish star Grzegorz Zengota.

Guest Chris Harris was also full value for entertainment with a series of passing moves, including a third-to-first effort to get the better of Worrall and Grzegorz Walasek in Heat 11 and then a spectacular dice with Piotr Swiderski two races later.

Zengota was unbeaten from his first four rides although he had a touch of fortune in Heat 8 when he dropped a chain leaving the line, only for the race to be called back for an unsatisfactory start - and he won the re-run on a bike borrowed from Nick Morris!

The remainder of the Robins team were solid as they minimised last places, and skipper Troy Batchelor secured a fine win over Doyle in Heat 10 holding off his fellow countryman by inches - although Doyle had the final say by denying Zengota a maximum in Heat 15 after Nick Morris had fallen.

Swindon boss Alun Rossiter said: “It was a good victory under the circumstances, and a professional job done by the boys.

“I’m really proud of them all because that was hard, even for the away team, and I know that from speaking to Jason Doyle.

“I said to the lads beforehand that I wasn’t going to do the corny thing of saying ‘do it for Darcy’ but what I did say is that we needed to remember how much he’s lifted the club since he’s been here, and don’t let that be in vain.

“We went out and did a professional job and I have to take my hat off to all the riders, they were absolutely outstanding.”

The Robins return to action next week with back-to-back fixtures against Coventry, away on Wednesday and back at the Abbey on Thursday.

Supporters travelling to Brandon can gain admission for £10 on production of their re-admission tickets from Thursday’s home match against Leicester.

ELITE LEAGUE
SWINDON 51: Grzegorz Zengota 13+1, Aaron Summers 8, Nick Morris 8, Chris Harris 7+2, Troy Batchelor 7+1, Charles Wright 4+1, Rob Branford 4+1
LEICESTER 39: Jason Doyle 13, Steve Worrall 10+1, Sam Masters 7+1, Szymon Wozniak 5, Grzegorz Walasek 4+1, Piotr Swiderski 0, Oliver Greenwood 0
Elite League points: Swindon 3 Leicester 0