REIGNING champions Swindon Robins recorded a shock 14-point victory at Wimborne Road on Wednesday night, firing an early message to their SGB Premiership rivals.

The meeting marked Robins’ first Premiership meeting of the season following three postponements due to the unseasonal wet weather.

But a lack of track time proved no issue for Alun Rossiter’s troops, who made light work of a poor Pirates side.

Swindon made the best possible start in heat one when skipper Nick Morris raced to a tapes-to-flag victory with teammate David Bellego in support behind as Alun Rossiter’s men opened up an early four-point lead.

Pirates halved Robins’ lead in heat two as Polish racer Mateusz Szczepaniak took the flag while James Shanes filled in for third as Zach Wajtknecht did well to pick up second place.

It was a case of one step forward two steps back for Pirates in heat three though as Troy Batchelor led home Adam Ellis to a tapes-to-flag win, extended Robins’ lead to six points.

Tobiasz Musielak continued the winning theme for Swindon in heat four when racing clear of Peter Kildemand to take the chequered flag in heat four, there was disappointment for Mitchell Davey though who registered his second consecutive no score.

Track work did little to help Pirates’ cause as Robins duo Nick Morris and David Bellego registered the visitors’ third 5-1 of the night.

Disaster struck in heat six though as Tobiasz Musielak dropped the clutch a fraction late and touched the tapes, forcing him to re-start the race from 15metres.

Pirates pairing Brady Kurtz and Kacper Woryna made little mistake from the tapes, blocking Robins reserve Zach Wajtknecht on the back straight of lap one before winning the race comfortably.

The home side clawed their way further back into the meeting in heat seven when Robins asset Peter Kildemand showed no remorse for his parent club.

The Danish international blasted his way around the outside of Troy Batchelor to lead home a Pirates 4-2, reducing Robins lead to four points after seven heats.

Thoughts of Pirates gaining a stranglehold on the meeting were quickly dashed though as Robins recorded three consecutive race advantages to establish a 12-point lead before the interval.

David Bellego was the first to register a race win in this block of three races as he led from the gate to win heat eight comfortably.

There was drama behind him though as Pirates reserve James Shanes crashed out in spectacular fashion when chasing Zach Wajtknecht for third.

Shanes was excluded as the referee awarded the race, Robins earning a 2-4.

Heat nine saw another Pirate hit the deck as Aussie Josh Grajczonek crashed spectacularly on the second bend after he drifted too wide on the first lap.

Grajczonek’s exclusion provided Robins with the catalyst needed to register another race advantage as Tobiasz Musielak registered his second win of the night while reserve Mitchell Davey grabbed third.

The crushing blow for the hosts came in heat 10 though as Troy Batchelor and Adam Ellis pulled off a shock 5-1 over Kacper Woryna and Brady Kurtz.

Batchelor rode an excellent first turn to find his way around the Pirates duo while Adam Ellis covered the inside line to put Robins 12 points ahead.

Nick Morris’ inspired form continued after the break in heat 11 when he led home Peter Kildemand and Mateusz Szczepaniak in a shared race.

Neil Middleditch made two tactical switches in heat 12 as Kildemand and Szczepaniak raced their second heat on the spin as a pairing.

The change did little to deter Aussie Troy Batchelor though, who won from the gate as Pirates were left needing a trio of 5-1s from the last three heats to draw the meeting.

Robins wasted no time in wrapping the points up though as Morris and Musielak filled the minor points scoring positions to secure a 3-3, and an unlikely away win.

Adam Ellis earned his first win of the night in heat 14 when beating Szczepaniak to the flag.

Nick Morris then rounded off an excellent performance with a win in heat 15 while partner Troy Batchelor finished third as Robins recorded a 38-52 win.

POOLE PIRATES 38: Brady Kurtz 3+1 (1-2’-0-0), Kacper Woryna 6 (0-3-2-1-0), Josh Grajczonek 0 (0-0-FX), Linus Sundstrom 5+1 (1-1-2-1’), Peter Kildemand 14+1 (2-3-2-2-3-2), Mateusz Szczepaniak 8+2 (3-1-1’-1’-2), James Shanes 2+1 (1-1’-FX).

SWINDON ROBINS 52: Nick Morris 14 (3-3-3-2-3), David Bellego 7+2 (2’-2’-3-0), Troy Batchelor 12 (3-2-3-3-1), Adam Ellis 7+2 (2’-0-2-3), Tobiasz Musielak 7+1 (3-0-3-1’), Zach Wajtknecht 4 (2-1-1-0), Mitchell Davey 1 (0-0-1-0).