Lakeside Hammers 41, Swindon Robins 49
SWINDON produced a stunning display to hand the Hammers in their first home defeat of the season.

The Robins have found a gem in Jurica Pavlic as the teenage sensation from Croatia romped to a seven-ride maximum from the reserve berth and was expertly supported by Aussie Leigh Adams, who also remained undefeated by a Hammers rider.

There was some consolation for Hammers in the performance of new number eight Kauko Nieminen. The Workington Comets number one enjoyed success in gaining 11+3 points.

There was also the unexpected return of number one Andreas Jonsson, after his girlfriend had given birth in his Swedish homeland.

Hammers struggled to get out of the gate all night and Leigh Lanham and Adam Shields both had off nights with mechanical problems.

However, Lakeside did earn a slender heat advantage early on through Jonas Davidsson and Shields, but it could have been better if Shields when in the lead had not temporarily lost power.

But the lead did not last long as the Robins levelled the meeting in the following heat through Pavlic and Aussie Troy Batchelor.

And Swindon upped the ante and took two heat advantages in heats 5 and 8 to open up a four point gap although the lead was not to last long as Shields finally got rid of his mechanical problems to take a win with Swede Davidsson taking second place and levelled the scores at 27 apiece.

This crucial match was proving a tough one for the under strength Hammers and they went behind again after heat 11 when Adams took the victory and the mechanical problems struck again as Lanham pulled up on lap two.

And from then on Swindon held their nerve and opened up the lead to four points again after heat 13, and put the Hammers in a compromising position going into heat 15, needing a heat maximum just to level the meeting.

But that was going to be a stern task when up against Pavlic and Adams, both currently unbeaten on the night.

Both Pavlic and Adams got away from the gate and left the Hammers’ duo of Jonsson and Davidsson in their wake to round of an impressive performance from the Robins pair in particular, as they totalled 38 of their side's 49 points.

Lakeside Hammers 41: Andreas Jonsson 8, Leigh Lanham 3+3, Adam Shields 6, Jonas Davidsson 12+1, Joonas Kylmakorpi Rider Replacement, Kauko Nieminen 11+3, Chris Mills 1+1.

Swindon Robins 49: Leigh Adams 17+1, James Wright 5, Mads Korneliussen Rider Replacement, Travis McGowan 0, Troy Batchelor 6, Manuel Hauzinger 0, Jurica Pavlic 21.

Heat-by-heat:
1: Adams, Jonsson, Lanham, Wright (3-3) (3-3) 57.6
2: Pavlic, Nieminen, Mills, Hauzinger (3-3) (6-6) 58.2
3: Davidsson, Wright, Shields, McGowan (fell exc) (4-2) (10-8) race awarded, no time
4: Pavlic, Nieminen, Batchelor, Mills (2-4) (12-12) 57.5
5: Adams, Davidsson, Wright, Shields (ret) (2-4) (14-16) 57.9
6: Batchelor, Jonsson, Lanham, Hauzinger (3-3) (17-19) 58.2
7: Pavlic, Davidsson, Nieminen, McGowan (3-3) (20-22) 58.0
8: Pavlic, Nieminen, Wright, Lanham (2-4) (22-26) 57.6
9: Shields, Davidsson, Batchelor, Hauzinger (5-1) (27-27) 58.9
10: Adams, Jonsson, Lanham, McGowan (3-3) (30-30) 58.5
11: Adams, Nieminen, Wright, Lanham (ret) (2-4) (32-34) 59.2
12: Pavlic, Shields, Nieminen, Batchelor (ret) (3-3) (35-37) 57.9
13: Adams, Jonsson, Batchelor, Mills (2-4) (37-41) 57.7
14: Pavlic, Davidsson, Nieminen, McGowan (3-3) (40-44) 58.2
15: Pavlic, Adams, Davidsson, Jonsson (ref) (1-5) (41-49) 58.2