LEIGH Adams romped to a 15-point maximum as Swindon thrashed patched-up Peterborough 54-39 last night, wrecking Troy Batchelor’s hopes of a dream return to his former club.

Much of the pre-meeting talk had focused on the reappearance of Batchelor at the Abbey Stadium, but skipper Adams was the only name on everyone’s lips at the end of the final heat, as he tripled the score of his fellow countryman following five stunning race wins.

The emphatic triumph gave the Robins three Elite League points and, just as crucially, sent their visitors home with nothing, and while Adams admitted to having enjoyed himself, he was quick to praise the whole team for their performances.

“It was a good 15, I made some starts and I had to do a couple from the back, but it was nice,” said the skipper.

“It was just a good win all round, we’ve been winning but not getting three points, we’ve been letting those slip away.

“It’s been disappointing but everyone did their job tonight. Justin (Sedgmen) jumped in at the deep end and battled hard, and Greg (Zengota) was very good, he really piled in the points.”

Blunsdon chief Ronnie Russell made one enforced change to the side that were well-beaten at Lakeside a fortnight ago, with Cory Gathercole replacing banned reserve Thomas H. Jonasson.

Peterborough were without no less than five riders including injured number one Niels-Kristian Iversen, who was replaced by Poole’s in-form skipper Davey Watt.

Swindon carved out an early lead thanks to a 4-2 from Adams and Zengota in the opener, the latter being edged out by Watt on the line.

The honours were shared in two and three, before hard riding from Gathercole forced Troy Batchelor out wide at the second bend, allowing both him and Mads Korneliussen to zip past.

Watt triumphed in heat five before Swindon clocked up a 5-1 in the race of the night. Adams came from behind to inch past Batchelor out of bend two, and Zengota, having roared past Workington man Craig Cook in lap two, blasted past Batchelor at the death to take the hosts’ lead to 22-14.

It was three points each in heat seven and then Zengota and Gathercole looked in cruise control as they bagged a 5-1 against Ulrich Ostergaard and Cook.

Simon Stead’s spill marred a disappointing race nine, only for Adams and the all-action Zengota to dominate against Bjerre and Bridger.

Peterborough pulled back seven points in the next two heats as Watt secured a tactical win, while Cook and an out-of-sorts Lewis Bridger then came good.

The 5-1 favour was immediately returned with Adams powering from third to first around the outside, with Korneliussen strong in second.

Stead got the better of Bjerre before Adams romped to his 15-point full house in the final race, leaving Bjerre trailing in his wake.