Team effort is key for Robins success, says Aussie ace (From This Is Wiltshire)

Team effort is key for Robins success, says Aussie ace

8:00am Thursday 2nd July 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

TRAVIS McGowan believes the rest of the Elite League are casting envious glances at star duo Leigh Adams and Matej Zagar - but insists only an all-round team effort can land Swindon Robins the prize they crave more than any other.

Adams’ trademark consistency and the form of Blunsdon new boy Zagar have featured heavily as Robins have won eight league matches on the trot, including three successive wins on the road.

But nearest rivals Wolverhampton also have a top-drawer pairing of Peter Karlsson and Freddie Lindgren and McGowan reckons the remaining members of Swindon’s line-up can make all the difference.

Ahead of tonight’s home appointment with the struggling Ipswich Witches, Aussie McGowan, who headlined Monday’s Sky Sports-televised 50-40 win at Eastbourne with paid 13, said: “There are not many teams who wouldn’t want to have Leigh Adams and Matej Zagar coming out in heat 13 and possibly heat 15 too, if needed.

“It’s a lot of firepower, but it’s up to everybody to do their job and if we do that we can get the good results like we did (against Eastbourne).

“Everyone’s got to dip in and do their little bit and we did that. That’s the key isn’t it?

“We’ve got some good points on the board but we’ve got to keep digging deep, put some more up there and see what comes of it.

“It’s definitely where we want to be, the top two. But we’re in a great position at the moment and we’ve got to keep it rolling."

Zagar has been a virtual ever-present in the double-figure scorers since his arrival and McGowan added: “He’s definitely brought something to the team, he’s a character and a fantastic rider and he’s shown it time and again."

Of his own efforts on Monday, he added: “It’s good. I like the track and it was excellent to get the great result for the team.

“We weren’t too disappointed with last time (they lost at Eastbourne in an incident-packed May meeting).

“That was an exceptional evening last time and I think both sides were relieved to get out reasonably unscathed.

“This time, it all went our way and it was a great result for us."

Robins will be expected to get the job done against the wilting Witches at home this evening, after heavy home and away successes against them at the start of June.

But McGowan warned: “You cannot take anything for granted and you do have those nights where things don’t go you way. You’ve got to be prepared."

He continues in the number four spot with rider replacement continuing to operate for Jurica Pavlic.

There are changes at reserve as Paul Hurry continues his recovery from a back problem. Youngster Justin Sedgemen steps in and will join Somerset teammate Cory Gathercole, who replaces Ryan Fisher at reserve.

As revealed at www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk yesterday, Ipswich have signed Troy Batchelor, axed by Swindon last month, in place of Piotr Swiderski and brought back Great Britain’s Grand Prix star Scott Nicholls after Polish rider Jarek Hampel announced he would not be continuing is British speedway.

Neither Batchelor or Nicholls will ride tonight, although world under 21 champion Robert Miskowiak has come in as a direct replacement for Leigh Lanham.

Young British rider Tai Woffinden steps into Hampel’s spot tonight.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)