Swindon were unable to replicate their early season Foxhall Heath heroics as they fell to a disappointing fifteen point defeat at the hands of an impressive Ipswich side.
Monday 21st July, Sky Sports Elite League B
Ipswich Witches 54 - Swindon Robins 39
Alun Rossiter’s side made a dreadful start to evening by conceding three 5-1 heat advantages in the opening four races and never recovered from such a detrimental get away.
A Leigh Adams tactical ride in heat five provided Swindon with a glimmer of hope but two successive Ipswich 5-1 heat advantages immediately ensued. The Robins struck back with a 5-1 advantage of their own in heat eight but two further maximum heat scores for the home side quickly eradicated any chance of a Swindon fight back.
The Swindon score chart was headed by a characteristically impressive sixteen point haul from Leigh Adams whilst Travis McGowan demonstrated plenty of determination on his way to paid nine.
Guest inclusion Krystof Stojanowski collected an entertaining paid eight score but lowly contributions from the remainder of the side proved decisive in the final outcome.
Troy Batchelor made a tentative return from injury and whilst looking understandably rusty in the early part of the meeting did show signs in the latter stages of recapturing some of his old spark.
Ipswich were well served by their Polish trio of Swiderski, Hampel and Miskowiak whilst young German reserve Tobias Kroner enjoyed a night to remember as he romped to a well deserved paid twelve.
On a track that provided precious passing opportunities Swindon were generally sluggish away from the tapes and once behind struggled to find a route past their opponent.s
A hectic heat one saw Piotr Swiderski hit the front as the rest of field struggled to negotiate a cramped Foxhall Heath first turn. Adams and McGowan packed into the minor placing to ensure an opening heat points share.
Ipswich moved ahead in race two courtesy of a comfortable 5-1 from Tobias Kroner and Chris Schramm who romped away from the tapes whilst Krystof Stojanowski fell on the third bend.
Hampel and Johnston increased the Ipswich advantage with an untroubled 5-1 in heat three before Miskowiak and Schramm continued to inflict misery with a third successive ‘fiver’ in heat four.
Leigh Adams donned the black and white helmet colour in race five as Swindon attempted to claw back some points and the tactical ride worked wonders as Adams rode an untroubled race to collect victory.
Travis McGowan’s third spot saw the Robins’ secure a much needed 7-2 advantage and slashed the Ipswich lead to seven points. However, the Witches quickly countered the Swindon resurgence with 5-1 heat scores in heats six and seven.
A brilliant heat eight ride from McGowan and Stojanowski handed Swindon a 5-1 to slice the Ipswich lead to eleven points before a 4-2 from Hampel and Johnston bolstered their lead in race nine.
Kroner and Swiderski inflicted more misery in race ten before the productive partnership of Adams and McGowan.
Swindon did manage to steady the ship in the latter stages by conceding just one heat advantage. However, Ipswich’s earlier dominance proved far too much for Swindon to overcome and the Robins will be hoping for an improved performance on Thursday when the Witches visit Blunsdon.
