SWINDON Robins go into the second leg of the Elite League Play-off semi final against Coventry Bees with an eight point deficit to pull back.

After a fast start from the Coventry Bees, including a maximum in heat four, Swindon Robins were able to reel the home side back in and brought it back level after eight heats, with a maximum from dynamic duo Peter Kildemand and Troy Batchelor.

The hosts found themselves back in front on the evening after Kyle Howarth and Hans Andersen combined for a second maximum of the night for the Bees in heat 10 before Aaron Summers and Chris Harris followed it up with another maximum in the next heat.

The robins came back at the hosts again with two 4-2 finishes in the next two heats but a maximum in the penultimate race gave the hosts a 49-41 victory heading to The Abbey next Monday.

Swindon named an unchanged line-up to the side that beat the Bees so convincingly earlier in the month at the Abbey, with Batchelor going into the meet fresh off the back of being crowned Elite League Rider champion.

For the hosts, Aaron Summers, who was part of the Coventry that won the Elite League under Alun Rossiter in 2010 came into the starting line-up while ex-Swindon rider Andersen, who was captain when the Robins last lifted the trophy, was also present.

It was first blood for Kildemand in heat one as he came home ahead of Kyle Howarth and Andersen for Coventry to keep the score level, with Nick Morris bringing up the rear.

Nathan Greaves made a poor start when the second heat was stopped on the second lap after Greaves lost control of his bike into the second corner.

After the restart Garrity led from the first corner and rode away with it and Harris won the third heat to give Coventry a 10-8 lead.

The Robins fell further behind in heat four as Coventry claimed the first maximum of the night. Both Coventry riders made a good start but Morris was down the outside on the back straight in the first lap to take second before Hansen came back at Morris to the delight of the home crowd.

Gustafsson made a great start in heat five and never looked like giving up the lead as he took the three points ahead of Andersen and Harris.

The Robins narrowed the gap to just two points after their first maximum of the night from Kildemand and Batchelor in heat six.

Hard riding from North in heat seven got him the win and a share of the points with Coventry, before Swindon brought it back level in the next heat with a second win of the night from Gustafsson.

Things remained level after heat nine before the Bees regained the lead in heat ten with a maximum from Howarth and Andersen, after Gustafsson fell on the first corner and Batchelor was unable to get back at the two Coventry riders.

The hosts made it back-to-back maximums as a poor start from North saw him go down on the first corner and the Coventry pair of Summers and Harris went on to clinch the full points in comfortable style.

The Robins tried to reply immediately and reduced the deficit by two in heat twelve. Morris took the lead after going wide in the first corner and while Howarth pushed Worrall, in third, all the way but the Swindon reserve held out to bring the score within six points.

It was a great race in heat thirteen as both Robins’ riders Kildemand and Batchelor made a good get away but they went deep and Batchelor came out of the first corner in the lead.

Batchelor was pushed all the way by Harris, with Andersen coming in last place to reduce the deficit again.

In the penultimate heat Worrall took his team mate North out in the second corner and Garrity had nowhere to go and was taken out by North's bike.

Worrall was disqualified for causing the accident and the Coventry riders of Hansen and Garrity claimed their fourth maximum of the evening.

Harris took the final race of the evening ahead of Batchelor and Kildemand to give Coventry an eight point lead heading to The Abbey next Monday.