Swindon ease to Elite Shield success over Poole

Elite League champions Swindon Robins collected the opening silverware of the season after they comfortably dispatched of Poole Pirates over two legs in the Elite Shield.

The Shield is comparable to the Community Shield in football with the league and cup holders going head to head, and this year saw the two favourites for the 2013 title battling it out.

And it was the Robins who eased to a 98-83 aggregate victory, set up by a comprehensive 55-37 win at the Abbey Stadium on Thursday.

With each of their top five riders scoring paid-nine or above, as well as both reserves making solid Blunsdon debuts, Swindon were able to bag a comfortable win over their 2012 Elite League Grand Final opponents.

For Poole, Chris Holder top scored on the night with paid 17 whilst Robert Miskowiak showed up well for his 7+2 but the main talking point of the evening was Darcy Ward's two points - his lowest score in two-and-half years in Poole colours.

The return leg on Good Friday saw Ward return to his accustomed self as he led Poole to victory, but it was only by 46-43 as Swindon secured the aggregate win.

Ward top-scored with paid 14, whilst Holder (10+1) and youngster Alex Davies (8+1) showed up well - but it was a worryingly off-colour display over the two days from title favourites Poole.

Welcoming the Shield success, club owner Gary Patchett said: "It's a great feeling to see the boys carry on where they left off last season and it sets us up nicely for the Elite League campaign now.

"Myself and Rosco (team manager Alun Rossiter) are proud of all the boys and hope we can keep it going.

"Obviously Poole will get stronger as the season goes on, it's very early of course, but it's nice to see our boys hitting the ground running.

"And it's also very nice that our new sponsors, Excalibur Communications, have seen us win something so early into their time with us."