Thursday 29 July 2004
PEBLEY BEACH SWINDON ROBINS 52
PETERBOROUGH ASL FREIGHT PANTHERS 44
Elite League
Swindon won 98-74 on aggregate
| Leigh Adams | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | - | - | 15 |
| David Ruud | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2* | - | - | - | 6(1) |
| Andy Smith | 0 | 1 | 1* | 2* | - | - | - | 4(2) |
| Steve Johnston | 3 | F | 2 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 8 |
| Charlie Gjedde | 2 | 2* | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | 6(1) |
| Olly Allen | 2* | 3 | 0 | X | - | - | - | 5(1) |
| Peter Ljung | 3 | 1* | 1 | 3 | - | - | - | 8(1) |
PETERBOROUGH
| Gary Havelock | 0 | 2* | 2* | 0 | - | - | - | 4(2) |
| Lukas Dryml | 2 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 0 | - | - | 13 |
| Henning Bager | 1* | 1 | 0 | 1 | - | - | - | 3(1) |
| Ales Dryml | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | - | - | - | 6 |
| Lee Richardson | 3 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | - | - | 15 |
| Adrian Rymel | 1 | 1* | 0 | 0 | 1 | - | - | 3(1) |
| Robbie Kessler | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Ht 1: Adams, L. Dryml, Ruud, Havelock, 64.52 | (4-2) |
| Ht 2: Ljung, Allen, Rymel, Kessler, 67.39 | (9-3) |
| Ht 3: Johnston, A. Dryml, Bager, Smith, 66.39 | (12-6) |
| Ht 4: Richardson, Gjedde, Ljung, Kessler, 66.52 | (15-9) |
| Ht 5: L. Dryml, Havelock, Smith, Johnston (fell), 66.61 | (16-14) |
| Ht 6: Adams, Richardson, Rymel, Ruud, 65.24 | (19-17) |
| Ht 7: Allen, Gjedde, Bager, A. Dryml, 67.43 | (24-18) |
| Ht 8: (Re-Run) Ruud, L. Dryml, Ljung, Rymel, 66.68 | (28-20) |
| Ht 9: Richardson (TR), Johnston, Smith, Kessler, 66.52 | (31-26) |
| Ht 10: Adams, Ruud, A. Dryml, Bager, 66.20 | (36-27) |
| Ht 11: L. Dryml (TR), Havelock, Gjedde, Allen, 67.59 | (37-35) |
| Ht 12: Ljung, Smith, Bager, Rymel, 67.65 | (42-36) |
| Ht 13: Adams, Richardson, Gjedde, Havelock, 65.30 | (46-38) |
| Ht 14: (Re-Run) A. Dryml, Johnston, Rymel, Allen (f,ex), 67.12 | (48-42) |
| Ht 15: (Nominated) Adams (b), Richardson (g), Johnston (r), L. Dryml (y), 67.02 | (52-44) |
Ht 8: Rymel replaced Kessler
Ht 9: TR Richardson (Double points); Kessler replaced Rymel
Ht 11: TR L. Dryml (Double points)
Ht 14: Rymel replaced Kessler
Second-half:-
| Race 1: James Purchase (r), Nathan Irwin (y), Jordan Frampton (b), Russell Barnett (g), 72.05 |
| Race 2: Nathan Irwin (y), James Purchase (r), Jordan Frampton (b), Russell Barnett (g), 71.86 |
Following their triumph at Arena-Essex the previous evening, the Pebley Beach Robins further enhanced their Play-Off chances with a hard-fought victory over a gallant Peterborough outfit. Leading the way was the remarkable Leigh Adams, who weaved his way to yet another mesmeric maximum, his fourteenth of the season (11 full and 3 paid). As with the performance at Purfleet, the Australian received super support from his team-mates, with solid scoring right down the line.
In heat one, Adams was at his brilliant best as he repelled a strong challenge from Lukas Dryml through the first lap, before speeding on to victory in 64.52 seconds, just .06 outside his own track record. Meanwhile, David Ruud comfortably held third spot from Gary Havelock throughout, thereby giving Swindon an early advantage.
The reserves’ race went the way of Peter Ljung and Olly Allen, the home duo sweeping to maximum points all the way from the gate, with Panthers guest Adrian Rymel floundering in third place. Steve Johnston made a rocket fuelled start to heat three, prior to cleverly dropping across Ales Dryml on the first turn. A good win for the liveliest teamster in the Pebley Beach Robins’ nest followed, with Ales Dryml and Henning Bager forcing a share of the points.
With Swindon 12-6 ahead, there was another even split in the fourth heat, before Peterborough hauled themselves right back into contention courtesy of a 5-1 from the younger Dryml and his skipper Havvy. Both Johno and Smudger were on their tails throughout, but in looking for grip on the outside, Swindon’s flamboyant Aussie unluckily came a cropper in a do-or-die effort on the last corner.
Richardson got the drop in heat six, but Adams wasn’t to be denied as he wriggled through the smallest of gaps close to the safety fence, mid-way down the back straight. While the Elite League’s top man cantered home, Richardson and Rymel kept Ruud at the back to leave the score finely balanced at 19-17. Allen bravely took the outside route to head heat seven and with Charlie Gjedde following from tapes-to-flag, a 24-18 scoreline provided much relief for the home supporters.
Rodney was really on the gas as he flew to victory from his favoured outside gate in a re-started heat eight. Meanwhile, Peedy looked like he might make it a successive ‘fiver’, when he literally threw himself under Lukas Dryml on the third bend, but the 2002 World Under-21 Champion hit back to re-pass on the back straight next time around. The resultant 4-2 put Swindon eight-points up and Panthers’ team boss Trevor Swales wasted no time in giving Richardson the nod for a tactical ride. The British racer responded with a fine win ahead of Johno, and with Andy Smith taking care of Kessler, at least the damage was limited to a 6-3 reverse.
Adams completed a hat-trick of wins in heat ten, while Ruud survived almost constant pressure from Ales Dryml to make it a 5-1. With the Pebley Beach Robins leading 36-27, the expected tactical move saw Lukas Dryml sport the black and white helmet in heat eleven. The Czech ace didn’t disappoint the travelling fans either, as he and Havelock carded a maximum 8-1, reducing Swindon’s lead to 37-35 in the process.
With the stakes high and the tension mounting, the nerves were steadied a tad in heat twelve, when Ljung and Smith hit the front and headed off into the balmy night air to register maximum points over Bager. A fizzing ride from Adams brought another win for the Swindon captain in the next race, with Richardson having to settle for second spot. Meanwhile, Gjedde showed his commitment to the cause in holding on for the odd-point, despite losing his steel shoe two-and-a-half laps into the race.
With Johnston leading the penultimate heat through the first two laps, Allen attempted to close in on the second placed Ales Dryml, only to pick up some unwanted drive and hit the deck. Surprisingly, referee Tony Steele ordered a re-run and as so often happens in these cases, the original race leader was beaten! Indeed, Dryml was in the ascendancy from the start, although Johno had the crowd on their toes with his non-stop efforts to get on terms. His second place finish nonetheless guaranteed victory on the night and three precious league points, allowing the crowd to relax as Adams came to the line for heat fifteen.
Light rain began to fall prior to the off and it was Richardson who reacted the fastest to streak away. However, he was out-paced as Adams powered by entering the back straight on his way to victory number five. Johno had the measure of Lukas Dryml for third place meanwhile, giving Swindon an eight-point margin of success.