KING’S LYNN went down 51-39 in their penultimate meeting of the season against table-topping Swindon at the Adrian Flux Arena.
Poultec Stars matched the powerhouse visitors for a large part of the meeting but Swindon, inspired by former World Champion Jason Doyle, turned on the style in the latter part.
They now have one meeting remaining - and it’s a big one for Poole who need to win at the Adrian Flux Arena this Thursday to overhaul Swindon and finish top of the table.
Lynn boss Peter Schroeck said: “I don’t want to use excuses but obviously losing Thomas Jorgensen and then Michael Palm Toft left us up against it.
“Credit Swindon - they are a great side and good luck to them in the play-offs but it’s disappointing for us.
“We now have to look ahead to Thursday and try and end in a high and then come back stronger for next season.”
Lynn made a great start as Robert Lambert and Ty Proctor secured a 4-2 in Heat 1.
The scores stayed level until Heat 5 when Adam Ellis partnered Jason Doyle to 5-1 which put them two points up. It was a cracking ride from Ellis who passed both Stars’ riders to join his teammate out front.
Lambert and Proctor then hit back with another in the very next race to bring the scores level at 18-18.
In Heat 8 King’s Lynn gated on a 5-1 only for Ellis to pass Kerr and Proctor to take the win in fine style which again kept the two sides locked together at 24-24.
There was another great race in 10. Lambert and Proctor were on a 4-2 for the Stars, but Rasmus Jensen passed Lambert only for the Brit to retake the lead and won comfortably. Tobiasz Musielak then overtook Proctor for third for a shared heat. Again, the scores were level 30-30.
Then Swindon really turned the screw on the home side with back-to-back 4-2s in heats 11 and 12 to lead 34-38.
The real drama was in Heat 13 which was an all-action race between all four riders. Craig Cook led until turn three, last lap when he and Troy Batchelor fell. Cook was disqualified as a result of the stoppage and the race was awarded a Swindon 5-1 with Batchelor taking the win ahead of Jason Doyle and Lambert. With the scores now 35-43 to Swindon.
Yet more drama followed in Heat 14 as tactical substitute Lambert and Erik Riss gated on a 5-1 only for the German to suffer an engine failure which gifted the Robins a shared heat and the win on the night with the scores 38-46.
Doyle and Troy Batchelor wrapped up all four away points for the visitors with a 5-1 in heat 15 which means they are still top of the Premiership.
KING’S LYNN 39: Robert Lambert 14, Erik Riss 8, Craig Cook 8, Lewis Kerr 5+2, Ty Proctor 4, Nicklas Porsing 0, Thomas Jorgensen R/R. SWINDON 51: Jason Doyle 13+1, Troy Batchelor 11+2, Tobiasz Musielak 7+1, Adam Ellis 6+1, Rasmus Jensen 6+1, Claus Vissing 5+1, Ellis Perks 3+2.
