Robins capture Elite Shield

Robins shock double winners Coventry

By Graeme Bailey   Last updated: 25th March 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Robins capture Elite Shield

Adams in-form Swindon captain Fotospeedway.pl

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Swindon Robins produced a huge shock as they captured the first silverware of the new speedway season - the Elite Shield.

The annual curtain-raiser pits the league and cup winners together, but with Coventry doing the double last season, it was last year's Sky Sports Elite League runners-up Swindon that provided the opposition.

Both sides were forced into major changes over the summer with Coventry seemingly looking one of the strongest sides again this term, whilst Swindon were being tipped by many to be relegation play-off candidates.

But The Robins showed they cannot be underestimated as they claimed a relatively comfortable 98-87 aggregate win.

Swindon set-up their win with a 57-35 victory over The Bees at Blunsdon on Sunday.

Robins skipper Leigh Adams looks as imperious as ever as he claimed a paid maximum, but there was tremendous backing with both Mads Korneliussen (10+1) and Travis McGowan (10) claiming double figures - indeed there was not a weak link at all on show for Swindon.

However, the same could not be said for Coventry as the in-form Billy Janniro (14) and captain Chris Harris (9+3) were the only ones to show any real resistance with Simon Stead, Rory Schlein and Olly Allen all disappointing.

Indeed the deficit was just too big for Coventry to make up at Brandon on Monday as they could only win 52-41.

Again Janniro was the highlight for the home side with his 11 paid 2 but no other Bee could make double figures and Swindon on the whole were able to match them with Adams leading the way as ever with 14.

Seb Alden (8) and Troy Batchelor (7) provided the main back-up to make sure the Shield was going to Swindon.

Craven Shield

Meanwhile, the Craven Shield looks delicately poised in every group as the qualifying rounds near conclusion.

The Northern Group looks certain to come down to points difference after Wolverhampton recorded a narrow 48-44 home victory over Belle Vue Aces.

Wolves have now completed their campaign with two home wins and two away losses and the match-ups between Coventry and Belle Vue will now decide the placings.

The Eastern sections have seen both Ipswich and Lakeside record away wins against each other which does mean they have more points than just home wins.

So Peterborough's 47-43 home win over The Witches in their first match of the competition means any one of three could still progress.

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