Swindon moved off the bottom of the Elite League table after securing a surprise 51-41 win over Eastbourne at Abbey Stadium.
Swindon take comfortable win in bottom-against-top clash
Swindon moved off the bottom of the Elite League table after securing a surprise 51-41 win over Eastbourne at Abbey Stadium.
The Robins led all the way through the contest, which pitted the bottom club in the standings against the table-topping Eagles, who could not mount a realistic challenge for the win.
The hosts set the tone by taking a 5-1 in the first heat before Robins reserve Cory Gathercole took victory in the second heat, which was shared 3-3.
Swindon gained a firm grip on the contest as the early heats, before Lewis Bridger led an Eastbourne 4-2 to close the gap to 23-19 after heat seven.
However, the hosts hit back as Gathercole followed Jesper B Monberg across the line to secure a 5-1 in the next heat.
Lead
And when Maciek Janowski and Nicolai Klindt combined for a 4-2 in heat nine, the lead was stretched to 10, allowing Eastbourne to nominate a rider for double points.
The Eagles played that card in the form of Bjarne Pedersen in heat 11, but the Dane could not stop Scott Nicholls - Swindon's top-scorer with 14 - from coming around his outside and taking the win.
Gathercole took another victory to restore the 10-point lead in the next heat, but Joonas Kylmakorpi and Pedersen then took a 5-1 to keep Eastbourne in contention.
There was to be no comeback though and the Robins secured victory as Janowski led a 4-2 in the penultimate heat, while the visitors could not grab a consolation point in the final heat.
"It's a really pleasing result and just shows that we have a good team here at Swindon," said Nicholls.
"It's been a tough time for the club in the early stages of the season but you only have to look at last season and the nightmare start Coventry made and yet ended up as champions.
"It's all about getting into the top four and having beaten Poole and now Eastbourne in successive home meetings we have to have belief that we can get into the play-offs. The team spirit is excellent."
Other wins
In other Elite League action on Monday, Belle Vue took the points from their clash with Birmingham by claiming a 50-42 home win.
Rory Schlein lead them home with paid 14, whilst Patrick Hougaard showed a welcome return to form with 12+1.
Birmingham used Darcy Ward as guest for Krzysztof Kasprzak and he top-scored with paid 12 but The Brummies came up just short in their quest for a league point.
At Monmore Green, Swedish veteran Peter Karlsson scored a maximum 18 points for Wolverhampton, who claimed a 53-42 victory over Lakeside.
With Freddie Lindgren scoring paid 16, Wolves again showed their top order is amongst the best in the league and that was all without the injured Tai Woffinden.
Lakeside had reserve Stuart Robson in amazing form with 17, but he was the only Hammer to hit double figures.
