CHALLENGE MEETING FIRST LEG, ABBEY STADIUM

SWINDON ROBINS: Troy Batchelor (1*-2*-3-1*-1*)8+4, Nick Morris (2-3-3-1)9, Simon Stead (2-R-3-3)8, Peter Kildemand (R-2-1-2)5, Hans Andersen (3-3-3-2-2)13, Kenny Ingalls (1*-2*-0-1*)4+3, Robin Aspegren (2-1-2*-1)6+1

SOMERSET REBELS: Darcy Ward, guest (3-3-4^-3-3)16, James Wright (0-1-1-1)3, Davey Watt, guest (3-1-2-4^-0)10, Claus Vissing (1-0-R-3)4, Sam Masters (2-1-2-0)5, Alex Davies (3-0-0)3, Kyle Newman (R-0-0)0, Tom Perry (0-0)0

HEAT DETAILS

Heat 1 (re-run, unsatisfactory start): Ward, Morris, Batchelor, Wright, 66.61 (3-3)

That start was untidy to put it kindly. A warning is dished out to Morris and it's all four back. On the re-run it's very tight at the first bend between Ward and Batchelor but Ward just edges round the outside. Morris is past Batchelor by the end of lap one.

Heat 2: Davies, Aspegren, Ingalls, Newman, 67.18 (6-6)

Davies surges into the lead from gate one and never looks back. Newman is fourth when he locks up on bend two and the bike jumps all over the place like a bucking bronco.

Heat 3 (re-run, 15m tapes): Watt, Stead, Vissing, Kildemand, 68.43 (8-10)

Stead is penalised for failing to make the start and begins 15m back. Kildemand goes too early on the re-run and is warned. Watt wins the second re-run easily. Kildemand had forced his way into second past Vissing on bend two but packs up a lap later. Stead finally tracks down Vissing on lap three bend two, sneaking up the inside in a trademark move.

Heat 4: Andersen, Masters, Aspegren, Perry, 67.91 (12-12)

That's a bit more like it. Finally the Robins have their first win and heat advantage of the night. Andersen wasn't too troubled in the end.

Heat 5 (re-run, unsatisfactory start): Ward, Kildemand, Wright, Stead (R), 69.02 (14-16)

Blimey, another re-run. It's Wright that's warned this time. Stead seems to be having major bike problems tonight - he packs up on bend two and that's his race over. Kildemand bravely attempts to mix it with Ward but the Aussie is just too quick.

Heat 6: Morris, Batchelor, Masters, Davies, 68.72 (19-17)

A comfortable 5-1. Batchelor gates off the inside but Morris zips round the boards to take the lead on the back straight.

Heat 7: Andersen, Ingalls, Watt, Vissing, 68.95 (24-18)

Ingalls pulls off a cracker of a second bend which enables him to slot in behind Andersen. Watt gives it his all to power back into second but Ingalls is having none of it. Super ride.

Heat 8: Morris, Aspegren, Wright, Newman, 70.19 (29-19)

Aspegren gates from two. Morris is right behind him and the pair exchange the lead for most of the race, with the latter taking victory on the line. That's three 5-1s in a row now.

Heat 9: Stead, Masters, Kildemand, Perry, 69.29 (33-21)

Stead inches ahead at the start and eventually wins at a canter. Kildemand nips past Perry on the back straight of lap two. The Dane has a good go at getting past Masters but it's not to be.

Heat 10: Batchelor, Watt, Morris, Vissing, 68.60 (37-23)

Simple victory for Batchelor from gate four. Morris shows his battling qualities by getting the better of Vissing on lap two, before the Dane retires a lap later.

Heat 11: Andersen, Ward (tac), Wright, Ingalls, 68.28 (40-28)

Andersen gets out off the inside to defend the tactical from Ward pretty well. The Dane is on a maximum after three wins from three rides. Ward nearly comes off on bend four off lap two as he runs wide but hangs on.

Heat 12: Stead, Watt (tac), Aspegren, Davies, 68.67 (44-32)

Stead from the gate. The Yorkshireman seems to have overcome his early bike problems.

Heat 13 (re-run): Ward, Andersen, Batchelor, Masters, 68.22 (47-35)

Again it’s very close between Ward and Batchelor at bend one and the former seemed to give Batchelor a little nudge. The Swindon number one goes flying and nearly wipes out Andersen outside him. Nevertheless, it’s all four back. Batchelor has some sort of front wheel damage but it's getting fixed on the centre green. Ward wins the re-run from the gate and it won't be a maximum for Andersen now.

Heat 14: Vissing, Kildemand, Ingalls, Newman, 69.53 (50-38)

Kildemand so nearly goes from third to first on bend two but Vissing holds out.

Heat 15 (re-run, unsatisfactory start): Ward, Andersen, Batchelor, Watt, 68.27 (53-41)

Batchelor is warned not to roll at the start. On the re-run Ward gates and cleverly blocks off Andersen on bend two. It's a great battle between the pair but Ward keeps top spot.

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