MEGA-popular Mads Korneliussen only just missed out on a maiden maximum, scoring 13+1 points from five rides as Swindon defeated Lakeside 53-40 at the Abbey.
Thursday 10 April 2008
SWINDON ROBINS 53 LAKESIDE HAMMERS 40
Sky Sports Elite League ‘A’
On a chilly night, the ominous looking clouds that descended over Blunsdon behaved impeccably as the Robins romped to an emphatic 13-point win to nudge their Elite League tally to four.
Korneliussen’s effort was matched by Troy Batchelor, who went about his work with bundles of determination and lashings of speed. The linchpin of the Swindon attack was, of course, Leigh Adams, whose paid 12-point maximum was excellently acquired and included two sublime team-riding efforts.
Elsewhere, James Wright enjoyed a productive evening with a thoroughly deserved 7 points, whilst Seb Alden recovered from a fall in his second outing to conjure a creditable paid 7. Cory Gathercole lived up to his ‘thrill merchant’ reputation with a breathtaking paid 3 score, whilst Travis McGowan will have been a touch disappointed only to collect 5 points.
The Hammers’ score-chart was topped by their experienced Australian Adam Shields, whose 13-point haul included a tactical ride victory in heat seven. However, support was thin on the ground for Shields, with no other member of the Lakeside team able to collect a double-figure score.
Swindon held the ascendancy throughout and constructed a 10-point lead after the conclusion of race six. Lakeside hit back with a well worked 8-1 in heat seven, but the Robins knuckled down and built another unassailable lead.
The meeting began well for Swindon with a 4-2 advantage from Adams and the ever-improving Wright. Lakeside’s Leigh Lanham suffered an engine failure whilst attempting to fend off a strong challenge from Wright, with guest Davey Watt comfortably holding second spot throughout.
Ricky Kling made a strong impression with a tapes-to-flag victory in heat two, as the Robins’ pairing packed the minor placings. Alden chased Kling all through the race, whilst Gathercole rode an intelligent line to keep Lubos Tomiceck at bay.
The lively partnership of Batchelor and Korneliussen once again prevailed in race three, with a fantastically worked 5-1 that left the Lakeside riders trailing.
The ensuing heat saw former Swindon rider Jonas Davidsson collect victory, and the talented Swede was joined out front by his team-mate, Kling, as Lakeside collected a much-needed 5-1. Alden fell on bend two of lap one, as an audacious pass of Davidsson saw the Swindon reserve unable to scrub off enough speed to be able to stay upright.
Korneliussen and Batchelor collected a Swindon 5-1 in an eventful race five, before Adams and Wright elevated Swindon’s lead to 10 points with a majestic 5-1 of their own in heat six.
Lakeside nominated Shields for a tactical ride in heat seven and the Australian didn’t disappoint, romping to victory with team-mate Joonas Kylmakorpi in close attendance.
With the Swindon lead slashed to just 3 points, Lanham collected victory in heat eight, prior to a third successive 5-1 from Batchelor and Korneliussen in a race nine that saw Davidsson start from 15 metres back after clattering through the tapes.
Adams and Wright claimed a 4-2 in race ten, before Lakeside hit back with a 5-1 through Watt and Lanham in a crackerjack heat eleven that saw the Hammers’ No. 2 and Gathercole indulge in a splendid scrap.
Alden and Batchelor took a 5-1 in race twelve, before Adams nurtured McGowan home for another ‘fiver’ in heat thirteen. Korneliussen’s brilliant night continued in the penultimate heat, courtesy of a superb third lap pass of Kling that was greeted by the famous Blunsdon roar.
A victory for Shields in heat fifteen scuppered the maximum aspirations of both Batchelor and Korneliussen, with the eventual 3-3 settling the Swindon victory at a comfortable 13 points.
HEAT DETAILS BY ROBERT BAMFORD
MATCH REPORT BY CHRIS SEAWARD
