Led for a second successive night by their superb skipper Leigh Adams the Robins narrowly missed out on a place in the Knockout Cup semi finals but almost staged an incredible smash and grab raid in the latter stages.
For the majority of the meeting Swindon looked distinctly unlikely to overturn Poole’s hefty thirteen point aggregate advantage. But, a spectacular late meeting resurgence saw the Robins plunder a scintillating fourteen points from three races which handed them a ten point advantage entering heat fifteen.
Ultimately the Swindon duo of Adams and Korneliussen were unable to notch up the 5-1 required to seal the aggregate victory and Poole were left to breathe a sigh of relief after they had failed to counter Swindon’s last gasp body blow.
Leigh Adams eased to his second maximum in as many meetings and the Australian stalwart was simply sublime throughout the course of the evening. He received superb support from the rapidly improving James Wright who displayed bundles of tenacity as he notched up an eye catching fourteen point haul from his energy sapping seven ride schedule.
Meanwhile, fresh from his pampering session, Mads Korneliussen enjoyed a characteristically flamboyant night with a praiseworthy paid thirteen score whilst Travis McGowan’s nine point haul included an impressive heat fourteen race victory.
Recently recruited Manuel Hauzinger, who was so remarkable on his home debut against Eastbourne, was unable to replicate such stunning form against Poole and failed to score.
The Poole score card was jointly headed by Bjarne Pedersen and Chris Holder, both of whom collected paid ten point scores. Yet again though it was the Pirates’ much discussed strength in depth that provided the back bone of their aggregate victory and whilst the performances of Watt, Skornicki and Eriksson weren’t flamboyant they certainly provided the visiting side with a sturdy foundation.
Leigh Adams got proceedings underway in a tame opening heat as the Australian international blasted from the tapes and pulled away from the chasing pack.
A re-run was ordered in the ensuing race as Manuel Hauzinger fell on turn one of lap two whilst occupying third position. In the re-staging, Poole’s in form reserve Daniel Davidsson was able to repel the persistent challenge of James Wright who pursued an array of racing lines.
Bjarne Pedersen collected a tapes to flag victory in heat three before his team mate Davey Watt once again demonstrated his liking for the Blunsdon raceway with a win in heat four.
Mads Korneliussen rode an intelligent first corner to gain the ascendancy in race five before Swindon gained the lead with a well worked 5-1 from Adams and Alden in heat six.
Korneliussen maintained the Swindon lead with a race win in heat seven before the workmanlike James Wright continued his rich vein of form with a win in race eight.
Davey Watt’s victory in the ensuing race ensured a points share before a further share of the spoils followed in heat ten as the imperious Adams blasted away from the chasing pack.
The Pirates levelled the scores in race eleven through the Holder/Eriksson partnership; cue the Swindon fight back as truly sensational rides from James Wright and Mads Korneliussen in race eleven galvanized the Robins camp. A second successive 5-1 ensued in race thirteen as Adams shepherded Wright home before the British youngster once again found himself in the thick of the action with a well worked 4-2 in race fourteen.
That set up a last heat decider and with Swindon requiring a 5-1 for overall victory Mads Korneliussen was unable to stamp his authority on the race and found himself phased out in the early stages.
Nevertheless it was a terrific effort from the Robins who will have been buoyed by their overall performance against the only side to win at Blunsdon this season.
