SWINDON ROBINS: Rosco's war cry ahead of Robins' title decider
6:00am Wednesday 17th October 2012 in Sport By Andy Warren
Alun Rossiter
ALUN Rossiter has urged his side to put the ghost of 1967 to bed once and for all and write their names into Robins history when they go head-to-head with Poole for the Elite League title this evening.
The Blunsdon side take a seven-point lead to Dorset tonight for the second leg of the play-off final, with Rossiter returning to the scene of his finest hour as a team manager after winning the title with Coventry at Wimborne Road in 2010.
If he could repeat the trick with his hometown club it would be the Robins’ first national title in 45 years, and although the proud Swindonian would like nothing more than to bring the trophy back to Wiltshire, he does not expect the long wait for a title to play too big a part against the Pirates.
“This is a totally different meeting with different circumstances to when I won it with Coventry, but being in the same scenario again I think I am a bit older and a bit wiser, and I need to make sure I do the right thing by all of the riders,” he said.
“It would mean an awful lot to win it with Swindon, of course it would, because everyone goes on about the 45-year wait hanging over us.
“But it isn’t like that, although it would mean an awful lot to me and all of the riders to go on and win.
“These guys would go down in history if we can win it, but we have to do it now and it is no good just talking about it.”
Although the Pirates rallied to reduce the Robins’ lead to only seven points, Rossiter believes their opponents’ lack of lower-order strength will once again rear its head this evening.
“We have no problems with the seven points at all, and I still think we are in the driving seat,” he said.
“The last time we rode at Poole we only lost by eight and they had Pawlicki who scored 10, and the rider replacement got them three points in the first leg.
“We are going to Poole to win the meeting, and if you don’t think you can win you may as well stay at home.
“That is not just me being big, that is a fact.
“If we can get a sniff and get in front early on then I think we can put them under a lot of pressure.”
Comments(11)
swindonspur
says...
7:58am Wed 17 Oct 12
52Chalkie
says...
8:19am Wed 17 Oct 12
swindonspur
says...
10:40am Wed 17 Oct 12
jayphotofinish
says...
11:31am Wed 17 Oct 12
For what its worth being the thinker I am the way to beat poole over two legs & you have got close already & it matters more this time around as you don't need reminding.Ok ...
Poole will be counting on their top 3 to rally late on in the meeting, suppress this if you can take points off them all well and good, Batch esp must ride to orders, not over ride & forfeit points like mon. Add take away at least 4 makes your task harder tonight but doable IMO. Poole's long tail & top heavy side will backfire on them tonight if you can put real, intense pressure on their other three riders who make up the numbers early will give your heat leaders an easier task & not feel that they have to face Chris + darcey in heat 13-15 to recue the match. Good luck, & as Kevin Keegan said of his side beating Man Unt 'I would love it if we beat them', through tear strained eyes. Thats how much it must mean to you too! I hate Man unt also. Lets hope this playing field remains flat and the goal posts arnt moved. Mathmatics is an exact science so make sure your boys ride to theirr averages & you outwit your counterpart just like you did in 2010. Will pop in for a drink when next up your way.
jayphotofinish
says...
11:31am Wed 17 Oct 12
For what its worth being the thinker I am the way to beat poole over two legs & you have got close already & it matters more this time around as you don't need reminding.Ok ...
Poole will be counting on their top 3 to rally late on in the meeting, suppress this if you can take points off them all well and good, Batch esp must ride to orders, not over ride & forfeit points like mon. Add take away at least 4 makes your task harder tonight but doable IMO. Poole's long tail & top heavy side will backfire on them tonight if you can put real, intense pressure on their other three riders who make up the numbers early will give your heat leaders an easier task & not feel that they have to face Chris + darcey in heat 13-15 to recue the match. Good luck, & as Kevin Keegan said of his side beating Man Unt 'I would love it if we beat them', through tear strained eyes. Thats how much it must mean to you too! I hate Man unt also. Lets hope this playing field remains flat and the goal posts arnt moved. Mathmatics is an exact science so make sure your boys ride to theirr averages & you outwit your counterpart just like you did in 2010. Will pop in for a drink when next up your way.
Malkym
says...
11:39am Wed 17 Oct 12
swindonspur wrote:Got a feeling they're going to get stuffed!
Got a feeling we are going to wrap it up in heat 14 Chalkie! The whole of Poole and everyone at Sky will be in tears!
EastleazeRed
says...
11:54am Wed 17 Oct 12
bobbinalong
says...
1:04pm Wed 17 Oct 12
swindonspur
says...
1:22pm Wed 17 Oct 12
bobbinalong wrote:No idea about Masters. We had to sign Aspregen as a full time rider earlier in the season so I have no idea why Poole are any different and should be allowed to use him. 3 rides are the min whether they are programmed or not. So they didn't do anything wrong there.
Does anyone know the rules of Speedway?? How come Masters could ride on Monday as a double up rider when he has no affiliation to a Premier League Club?? Secondly how was the fact that Howarth on took only 2 of his 'programmed' rides. Did the R/R ride count as a programmed ride????
bobbinalong
says...
8:49pm Wed 17 Oct 12
GalaxyMan says...
7:54am Wed 17 Oct 12