SWINDON Robins survived an early scare to advance to the semi-finals of the Knockout Cup at Rye House tonight, beating the Rockets 98-82 on aggregate.

Alun Rossiter’s men entered tonight’s meeting holding a convincing 28-point aggregate lead following Monday night’s 59-31 win at home against the Rockets.

But the Rockets made Robins sweat a little by cutting their lead to 16 points after just five heats had been raced in the second leg.

However convincing performances in the second half of the meeting from Adam Ellis and Troy Batchelor ensured Robins booked their spot in the semi-finals.

Robins were unchanged for the second leg while Rockets drafted in Kevin Doolan to replace Nikolaj Jakobsen, who was unavailable after suffering from concussion.

The visitors made the worst possible start as home duo Aaron Summers and Chris Harris led home Nick Morris and Adam Ellis from the gate in heat one to cut the aggregate lead to 24 points.

The lead was cut by another four points in the following heat as Zach Wajtknecht was squeezed out in the first turn by the home pairing of Max Clegg and Kevin Doolan.

While Wajtknecht had the speed on Clegg, the two home riders raced intelligently to secure Rockets’ second 5-1 in as many races.

Rockets’ run of 5-1s was stopped in heat three as David Bellego and Troy Batchelor held the minor points-scoring places throughout with Pole Krzysztof Kasprzak at the back as Edward Kennett took the heat win.

Scott Nicholls made it a quartet of heat wins for the Rockets in heat four when leading Tobiasz Musielak home.

Musielak secured Robins’ only points in that heat as Jack Smith again finished at the back.

Rye House continued to chip away at Robins’ lead as Polish international Krzysztof Kasprzak won heat five ahead of Nick Morris, who cut up the inside of Kennett on the final turn to prevent another home 5-1.

Chris Harris won Rockets’ sixth consecutive heat of the night in heat six as Robins duo Tobiasz Musielak and Zach Wajtknecht finished second and third respectively.

Robins looked set to earn their first heat advantage in heat seven as Troy Batchelor led seven-times British Champion Scott Nicholls and David Bellego.

But Nicholls used his track craft to cut back on the Australian and charge underneath him entering turn three of lap three, meaning Robins still held a 16-point aggregate lead.

Robins earned their first race advantage of the night in heat eight and extended their aggregate lead to 20 points when Adam Ellis and Zach Wajtknecht, who replaced Jack Smith, led home a Swindon 5-1.

Krzysztof Kasprzak got the better of Polish compatriot Tobiasz Musielak in heat nine to reduce Robins’ lead to 18 points as Edward Kennett comfortably beat Jack Smith into third in heat nine.

Rockets’ fate was all but secured after heat 10, though, as Troy Batchelor led home a Swindon 4-2 ahead of Chris Harris and David Bellego.

It meant the Rockets required a 5-1 in all of the remaining five heats to tie the meeting.

But their quest push Robins into the last few heats ended at heat 11 as Adam Ellis squeezed around the outside of Scott Nicholls on the first lap to secure the heat win with Nick Morris filling in for third.

Alun Rossiter’s troops continued to flourish in the closing heats when another 4-2 was recorded in heat 12.

Troy Batchelor launched from gate four and beat Kasprzak to the first turn while Wajtknecht filled in for third, stretching Robins’ aggregate lead to 24.

Rye House earned some consolation when experienced British duo Chris Harris and Scott Nicholls led home a 5-1 in heat 13, though the race was awarded after Robins skipper Nick Morris fell when entering turn one.

David Bellego was next to take a tumble as he crashed out of heat 14 when overlocking while negotiating bend two.

Bellego’s spill allowed home pairing Kevin Doolan and Edward Kennett to race to a maximum 5-1, cutting Robins aggregate lead to 16.

Troy Batchelor won the final race of the night to ensure Robins secured a comfortable 16-point win on aggregate.