Robins take the points

Lakeside put up another brave fight on their travels before eventually slipping to a 50-40 defeat against Swindon at the Abbey.

The Vortex Hammers battled valiantly throughout and were always in the mix against the Robins before eventually leaving Wiltshire empty handed.

It was a disappointing result for the Purfleet outfit as they gained no reward to show for their determined efforts – but coach Kelvin Tatum was once again encouraged by what he saw from his side.

Said Tatum: “We are a little frustrated in truth, because we competed very strongly and we’ve done that on a few occasions without picking up any points.

I’m sure if we continue to do that then we’ll start to get our rewards, but right now it feels a little frustrating because we got within two and then it just slipped away from us.

I’m encouraged by the fact that we have a team that come and race hard wherever they ride, and we’ll be looking to bounce back when we take on Coventry home and away in a couple of weeks.”

After a nip-and-tuck start, the Hammers found themselves eight behind and on the back foot after a second consecutive Swindon 5-1 in heat six. They fought back with Richard Lawson and Lewis Kerr bringing them within two with a maximum of their own in heat nine.

However, the hosts came on strong in the closing stages, with Grand Prix star Jason Doyle striking a faultless 15-point maximum to see them over the line. Swedish ace Kim Nilsson top scored for the Hammers with a classy display, whilst Richard Lawson bagged paid nine to join him in heat 15.

Reserve duo Robert Mear and Lewis Kerr also put in encouraging displays, but No.1 Andreas Jonsson endured a rare off night as he failed to record a race win. With Piotr Swiderski also struggling and Lewis Bridger earning little reward for his battling efforts, they were unable to add to their Elite League points tally.

The Arena-Essex Raceway side nonetheless remain top of the Elite League table after an action-packed two days.

They will now face a break of just over a fortnight before travelling to Coventry on Friday, May 20 then hosting the Bees the very next night.

Scores & heat results.

Swindon = 50

1. Jason Doyle 3, 3, 3, 3, 3 = 15
2. Charles Wright 1, 2′, 0, 0 = 3+1
3. Josh Grajczonek 0, 2′, 2′, 2 = 6+2
4. Justin Sedgmen 2, 3, 2, 0 = 7
5. Nick Morris 2, 0, 3, 2′, 1 = 8+1
6. Rohan Tungate 3, 3, 1, 3 = 10
7. Stefan Nielsen 1, 0, 0, R = 1

Lakeside = 40

1. Andreas Jonsson 2, 1, 1, 1 = 5
2. Piotr Swiderski 0, 0, 3, 0 = 3
3. Kim Nilsson 3, 2, 1′, 3, 2 = 11+1
4. Richard Lawson 3, 1′, 3, 1, 0 = 8+1
5. Lewis Bridger 1, 0, 2, 0 = 3
6. Rob Mear 2, 1, 1, 2 = 6
7. Lewis Kerr 0, 1, 2′, 1′ = 4+2

Heat Results

Heat 01: Doyle, Jonsson, Wright, Swiderski 4-2 66.24
Heat 02: Tungate, Mear, Nielsen, Kerr 4-2 8-4 67.80
Heat 03: Nilsson, Morris, Bridger, Grajczonek 2-4 10-8 67.24
Heat 04: Lawson, Sedgmen, Kerr, Nielsen 2-4 12-12 67.40
Heat 05: Tungate, Wright, Mear, Swiderski 5-1 17-13 67.77
Heat 06: Re-run Sedgmen, Grajczonek, Jonsson, Bridger 5-1 22-14 67.27
Heat 07: Doyle, Nilsson, Lawson, Morris 3-3 25-17 66.77
Heat 08: Swiderski, Sedgmen, Mear, Nielsen 2-4 27-21 68.31
Heat 09: Lawson, Kerr, Tungate, Wright 1-5 28-26 67.86
Heat 10: Morris, Grajczonek, Jonsson, Swiderski 5-1 33-27 67.80
Heat 11: Doyle, Bridger, Nilsson, Wright 3-3 36-30 68.79
Heat 12: Re-run Tungate, Mear, Kerr, Nielsen ret 3-3 39-33 69.11
Heat 13: Doyle, Morris, Jonsson, Bridger 5-1 44-34 67.92
Heat 14: Nilsson, Grajczonek, Lawson, Sedgmen 2-4 46-38 67.77
Heat 15: Doyle, Nilsson, Morris, Lawson 4-2 50-40 67.74

Courtesy of @speedwayupdates and @lakesidelive