ALUN Rossiter paid tribute to the importance of his side's final two away meetings of the season after the Swindon Robins' place in the Elite League play-offs was confirmed.

Eastbourne Eagles' chances of pipping the Robins to a top-four spot dissipated last night as the Sussex outfit suffered heavy 60-32 and 60-33 defeats in their double-header at Coventry Bees, turning Swindon's nine-point lead into an unassailable advantage.

Delighted team boss Rossiter reckons that the Robins' three-point victory at the Leicester Lions and stirring comeback to earn a losing point at Belle Vue Aces this month were crucial in getting his men over the line and the Abbey Stadium chief always had faith that Swindon would make it into the end-of-season shake-up.

“I'm really happy and I always had belief that we'd make it – I feel that we've got stronger as the season has gone on,” the Robins boss told the Advertiser.

“Winning at Leicester and getting that point at Belle Vue were really good. Belle Vue are one of the sides that people talked about for the play-offs and when they're flying, they're a great side.

“It was a tricky track but we showed some really good character to come back when not everyone was at their best.”

Rossiter was occupied assisting Nick Morris as the Swindon man notched up a 14+1 in the Somerset Rebels' win over the Workington Comets last night and the Robins chief must now wait to see who his team will face in the play-offs, with the end-of-season league leaders allowed to pick who they take on for a spot in the grand final.

Rossiter added: “I was over helping Nick at Somerset and I checked social media to see what had gone on.

“I had to double check that nobody was winding me up but I was obviously delighted when I found out that we were in there.

“I don't think there's any point in guessing who we're going to get – we've just got to wait and see.”

The Elite League play-offs begin on Monday September 29.