SWINDON Robins’ boss Alun Rossiter was delighted with his side as they survived a scare to beat King’s Lynn Stars 48-42 at the Abbey Stadium.

A week after their meeting with the Leicester Lions had been postponed due to poor weather, the Swindon Robins had got their flying SGB Premiership title defence off to a flying start away to Poole Pirates on Wednesday night.

And team manager Rossiter was overjoyed to make it two for two as they welcomed the Stars to a sun-kissed Abbey Stadium in their first home league meeting of the season.

“That is two wins out of two and it took us nine meetings to do that last year. It’s a bit worrying - I’d rather we went the other way around and finish like that,” said Rossiter, who was also pleased to see the weather finally turn a corner.

“It is always good to start with a win and the boys did really well, I know Troy Batchelor fired them up with some of the things he said in the press leading up to the meeting.

“I always give everyone the respect they deserve and everyone deserves respect. I knew it was going to be close. They came back at us but we managed to hold on.

“The turnaround in weather is amazing. It has gone mad, the weather was great and so was the turnout.

“I’m really happy with two perfect wins.”

Things just seemed to be going Swindon’s way from the get-go as they won the toss and elected for gates one and three in the opening heat.

Swindon couldn’t have asked for a better start as Adam Ellis flew out of the gates, snatching the initiative and the heat lead and the Brit was backed up well by skipper Nick Morris as they registered a 5-1 win.

The hosts were unable to repeat the feat in the second race as Zach Wajtknecht and Micthell Davey made a sluggish start, allowing the visiting duo to level the meeting with their own 5-1.

In the third, Aussie Troy Batchelor showed his former employers what they were missing out on as he gated well and held off Thomas Jorgensen for the heat win, while David Bellego battled well for third as Swindon led 10-8.

The good form continued as Musielak weighed in, drifting over from gate three tight into the first bend and continuing for the heat win.

Lewis Kerr took second while Robert Lambert could thank bike troubles for his fourth place as Swindon took another advantage.

Batchelor backed up his good showing as he made another great start into the opening two bends of the fifth. He faced stiff competition from Niels-Kristian Iversen, but Batchelor slammed the door shut for the win as the hosts stretched their lead to six points.

Ellis continued to impress, he and Morris proving to be quite the potent force as they picked up a second 5-1.

But Ty Proctor hit back for the visitors and kick-started a wobble for the hosts as King’s Lynn went on to register back-to-back 5-1s as well as a 4-2 to level the tie at 27-27 after heat nine.

In the 10th, Swindon were in need of a big ride and that is just what they got from skipper Morris, who flew round the second bend and despite contact stayed on his bike to lead, Ellis’ third place making it 31-29.

A heat later, Musielak and Wajtknecht teamed up for a 5-1 as momentum continued to swing Swindon’s way.

Wajknecht proved to be pivotal deep into the meeting as his third place got the hosts another heat advantage to take the score to 40-32.

With two heats to go, Lambert showed great speed from the tapes to steal a march on the home riders, Morris contesting well for first place but having to settle for second.

Musielak’s turbulent meeting then continued as he crossed the line fourth as the away side took a 4-2 heat win, making the score 42-36.

Bellego, who had also struggled, pulled a performance out of the bag in the 14th as he passed Jorgensen on the inside of turn two, before converting his advantage into a heat win. Wajtknecht again came up with vital points to seal overall victory.

The visitors took the final-heat spoils, Iverson finishing ahead of Morris, while Lambert took third with Batchelor fourth.

SWINDON ROBINS:48: Nick Morris 11+1, Adam Ellis 8, Troy Batchelor 11, David Bellego 5, Tobiasz Musielak 7, Zach Wajtknecht 5+1, Mitchell Davey 1.

KINGS LYNN STARS 42: Niels Kristian Iversen 8. Lewis Rose - rider replacement, Ty Proctor 7+1, Thomas Jorgensen 7, Robert Lambert 10, Kasper Andersen 3+1, Lewis Kerr 10+1.