Battling Eastbourne Eagles were denied a brave bonus point as table-toppers Swindon Robins clinched a 51-41 victory.

The Suth Coast side, trailed throughout the meeting before a late fightback threatened to hand them a surprise point.

However, Swindon's top two of Leigh Adams and Matej Zagar rode to a last-heat maximum to ensure the efforts of Davey Watt (14) and Simon Gustafsson (nine) and reserve Daniel Nermark (paid 10) were in vain.

Eagles, operating rider replacement for the injured Lukas Dryml, fell behind in the second heat of the night when Nermark lost control on the first bend of lap two while leading, allowing the home side's Mark Lemon through for the win.

But Watt gated in the next and Cameron Woodward took advantage of a spill by Robins' Travis McGowan to grab spot as they visitors restored parity.

However, the reserve pair of Chris Schramm and Nermark were easily beaten by Zagar and Lemon, then Lewis Bridger and Gustafsson trailed in behind Simon Stead and McGowan as Swindon jumped out into a eight-point lead a third of the way through the meeting with back-to-back maximums.

And when Croatian ace Jurica Pavlic and home skipper Adams stormed to another full house for Swindon in the next, Eagles' sent out Watt in seven, donning the double-points black and white helmet.

For a fleeting moment the move looked to have worked but after four scintillating laps of battle, Watt was caught coming out of the final bend by Zagar as Swindon limited the damage to a 5-3 reverse.

Gustafsson stemmed the tide a little by winning eight, with Nermark third and the next three races were shared as Stead and Watt - beating his Australian countryman Adams - trading heat wins before Zagar produced another superb passing move this time on Gustafsson in 11.

Surprisingly, the Eagles then opened the door on an unlikely away success as Watt and Nermark easily saw off McGowan and Lemon for a maximum to move just four points behind.

But Swindon firmly slammed it shut as their big-hitting duo of Adams and Zagar predictably romped to a maximum over the outclassed Bridger and Schramm...

Nermark kept alive hopes of at least a visiting bonus point by just holding off a charging Stead right on the finishing line in 14, with Woodward third.

But Adams and Zagar dashed those hopes with another maximum in the final race and a 10-point home victory.

Eastbourne: Lewis Bridger 3+2, Simon Gustafsson 9, Davey Watt 14, Cameron Woodward 4+2, Lukas Dryml - rider replacement, Chris Schramm 2, Daniel Nermark 9+1.

Swindon: Leigh Adams 12+2, Jurica Pavlic 4+1, Travis McGowan 3+1, Simon Stead 10, Matej Zagar 14+1, Paul Hurry 1, Mark Lemon 7+1