SWINDON Robins were unable to move a step closer to securing their play-off berth as they slipped to a 51-39 defeat away to Wolverhampton Wolves.

Alun Rossiter’s side travelled to Monmore Green high on confidence after back-to-back wins in the Elite League but despite Jason Doyle picking up a 12-point maximum, they were unable to put pressure on the sides above them.

The hosts had the perfect preparation for the meeting as they dispatched King’s Lynn Stars with ease in the first of the double-header.

Tai Woffinden scored 12+2 from his five rider as Wolves recorded an impressive 61-29 win, which took them temporarily into second place in the table.

Swindon named an unchanged side for the visit to the Black Country, while the hosts had Coventry Bees’ Chris Harris in the side too replace Sam Masters.

A great start from Doyle, fresh from his Grand Prix success, gave the visitors the start they were looking for but Justin Sedgmen lost out in bend two before taking advantage of Fredrik Lindgren falling on the penultimate lap.

Charles Wright got away well in heat two but Max Clegg pulled off a move underneath out of bend two.

A good battle between Wright and former Robin Kyle Howarth ensued but Wright fell on the last lap to give the hosts a maximum.

That was followed up with another 5-1 as Woffinden started well from gate four and then a great lunge from Harris into bend three saw him take both Robins riders of Josh Grajczonek and Nick Morris.

Tungate was the next to do well from gate four as the two Wolves riders of Jacob Thorssell and Howarth came together heading into bend one.

Neither rider fell but Thorssell was forced to retire as he suffered mechanical issues, giving Swindon the heat advantage and reducing the gap to four points.

Sedgmen started well to lead into bend one of heat five but Peter Karlsson and Maz Clegg had the pace down the back-straight to leave the Swindon man behind and claim a third maximum.

Doyle and Grajczonek were able to answer straight back for Swindon as they were leading when Woffinden slid into the barrier on bend three and the race is stopped.

There was a great battle at the front of heat seven between Harris and Tungate but the Wolves guest won out, with Morris holding on for third.

In heat eight, it was Thorssell with the best start and Sedgmen and Howarth were caught in a real tussle for second.

It was the Swindon man who came out on top, with Howarth left having to fend off Wright at the back.

Tungate reacted well in heat nine but as he was watching Karlsson out of bend two, Clegg came through on the inside.

Tungate showed real grit and fought back for the win and a share of the spoils.

Heat ten was a mouth-watering prospect as three Grand Prix riders took to the track and it was Doyle who came out on top.

He was followed home by Woffinden, while Harris battled back in the final lap to nick third spot from Sedgmen.

Swindon could consider themselves fortunate in heat 11 as Morris locked up going into bend one and Gracjzonek was unable to avoid him as they both ended up in a heap on the track.

However, the race was re-started with all four riders but Grajczonek was unable to prevent the Swedish pair of Lindgren and Karlsson from recording a maximum.

The Wolves reserves of Clegg and Howarth led from the front in heat 12 but Howarth made a mistake in the penultimate lap.

Wright, who was on a different bike after his caught fire just before the start of the race, took advantage and claimed second spot.

Doyle was forced to go the long way around bends one and two in heat 13 but still had enough pace down the back-straight to take the lead from Harris, while Grajczonek fought all the way at the back but was fruitless.

Tungate had two poor starts in heat 14 and was forced to start 15 metres back but took advantage of Thorssell getting out of shape in bends one and two as he and Morris followed Woffinden home.

Despite only picking up three points all evening, Morris was chosen alongside Tungate for heat 15 to face Woffinden and Harris.

However, Tungate was disqualified for exceeding the two-minute warning which left him going off a 15 metre penalty again.

Woffinden and Harris started well but the world champion suffered mechanical issues on the penultimate lap to deny them the maximum as they moved joint top with the win.

WOLVERHAMPTON WOLVES 51: Fredrik Lindgren (FR,0,3,1*) 4+1, Peter Karlsson (2,3,2,2*) 9+1, Tai Woffinden (3,FX,2,3) 8, Jacob Thorssell (R,1,3,0) 4, Chris Harris (2*,3,1*,2,3) 11+2, Max Clegg (3,2*,1*,3) 9+2, Kyle Howarth (2*,2,1,1) 6+1

SWINDON ROBINS 39: Jason Doyle (3,3,3,3) 12, Justin Sedgmen (1,2,2,0) 5, Nick Morris (0,1*,0,2,2) 5+1, Rohan Tungate (3,2,3,1*,1*) 10+2, Josh Grajczonek (1,2*,1,0) 4+1, Charles Wright (FX,0,0,2) 2, Stefan Nielsen (1,1,0,0) 2