Programme changes:
Ht 5: TR Adams (Double points); Ht 11: Kroner replaced Schramm in the first re-run; Ht 14: Parsons replaced Alden.
THE Robins launched a stunning fight-back to sensationally collect their first away victory of the 2008 season. The Wiltshire side clawed their way back to overturn a 10-point deficit and eventually romped to a 7-point victory, as the much-discussed blend of youth and experience combined brilliantly. In fact, Swindon didn’t concede a heat advantage after race four, as they re-grouped and put their poor start to the meeting firmly behind them.
Adams was in typically sublime form, dropping just a single point as the evening progressed and concluding the night with a hefty 17 points. Once again, the exciting duo of Troy Batchelor and Korneliussen performed impeccably by contributing a combined tally of paid 19 points between them.
However, the undoubted hero of the evening was guest rider Joel Parsons, whose awesome paid 11 points proved instrumental in Swindon’s success. The Australian youngster rolled up his sleeves and got stuck in with bundles of determination that impressed all those in attendance.
The input of team manager Alun Rossiter also mustn’t be overlooked, as the Robins’ chief successfully maintained team moral throughout despite a disappointing start to the evening.
The meeting began in dramatic fashion, as Ipswich’s Piotr Swiderksi clattered into the tapes and opted to start the re-run from a 15-metre handicap. His Polish compatriot, Robert Miskowiak, conjured a fantastic start to lead the pack and repelled intense pressure from Adams to collect a fine victory.
Ipswich took the lead in heat two, as their reserve duo of Tobias Kroner and Chris Schramm collected a 4-2; Parsons did well to split the home duo, whilst Seb Alden struggled at the rear.
An Ipswich 5-1 advantage ensued in a processional heat three, before Jaroslaw Hampel and Kroner inflicted more misery with another maximum return in race four.
With Swindon trailing by 10 points, Adams was nominated for an early tactical ride in heat five and the reliable Australian didn’t disappoint as he eased to a comfortable victory. Meanwhile, James Wright plugged away tenaciously, but was unable to forge a route past Chris Louis in third spot. The resultant 6-3 in Swindon’s favour narrowed the Ipswich advantage to 7 points.
Miskowiak took this second successive victory in a race six that saw Swiderski slide off on bend two, before the impressive Korneliussen and Batchelor partnership packed the minor placings to split race seven.
Wright conjured a crackerjack ride in heat eight, as he roared past the Ipswich duo on the second bend and flirted with the rapidly improving deeper dirt to collect a well-deserved victory.
Heat nine saw a fourth successive 3-3 as Louis eased to a win, whilst Travis McGowan and the tenacious Parsons remained in close attendance throughout.
An eventful heat ten saw Batchelor and Miskowiak collide awkwardly on the first turn, with the referee deeming a re-start with all four riders. The re-run saw the dynamic Batchelor and Korneliussen combine blissfully to collect Swindon’s first 5-1 of the evening, as the previously unbeaten Miskowiak tumbled on bend three of lap one.
With the gap narrowed to just 3 points, heat eleven saw the Robins cut the deficit further with a well-worked 4-2 in a twice re-run race that saw both Schramm and then Kroner excluded in separate incidents.
A couple of points-shares ensued, before Swindon gained the ascendancy in a memorable heat fourteen that saw Korneliussen make a text-book start and hit the front. However, all the action went on behind the Danish rider, as Parsons rode the ride of his life to keep the hard-charging home pairing of Schramm and Johnston at bay. The Australian’s heroics handed Swindon a 3-point lead heading into heat fifteen, as the tension levels continued to rise around the Foxhall Heath Stadium.
Adams and Korneliussen ended a perfect night for Swindon with a superbly worked 5-1 that completed what, at one stage, appeared an unlikely victory and handed the Robins 3 very crucial Sky Sports Elite League points.
HEAT DETAILS COURTESY OF LEE POOLE
MATCH SUMMARY BY CHRIS SEAWARD
