Gutsy King's Lynn Stars gave everything they had, but ran out of steam as they lost 52-38 at the hands of reigning champions and league leaders Swindon.

In an entertaining meeting at the Abbey Stadium Dale Allitt's men rode nicely, but the all-round strength of the home side proved decisive in front of a bumper Wiltshire crowd.

The Stars were on the back foot before racing had even begun, with Aussie ace Ty Proctor failing a fitness test on his shoulder and Kasper Andersen out after concussion.

And they weren't helped when key man Lewis Kerr pulled up off the pace with apparent bike trouble in his outings to add to Lynn's frustration.

Niels-Kristian Iversen was also leading the fifth race when Polish ace Tobiasz Musielak charged through on the inside to put Swindon 19-11 up.

Boss Allitt weaved his magic in heat seven by bringing skipper Robert Lambert in for a tactical substitution and he duly joined Thomas Jorgensen for a Stars 5-1 which pulled the score back to 23-19.

But their joy was short-lived when Adam Ellis and Zach Wajtknecht made a dream start for the Robins to outpace guest rider Kevin Doolan – and Kerr once again retired. Swindon restored their eight-point lead.

Heat 10 was a crushing blow for the Tru Plant Stars when Jorgensen was squeezed out early on and home favourite Nick Morris teamed up with Ellis to put the home side well clear at 36-24.

Troy Batchelor partnered Morris for a 5-1 in heat 13 which ended any hope of a consolation point for Lynn - it was an impressive display of team riding to deny British champion Lambert.

Lambert left his mark on the meeting with a brilliant last race to beat Batchelor with Iversen third ahead of Tobiasz Musielak who went off 15 metres after a starting offence.

Swindon52: Troy Batchelor 12, Tobiasz Musielak 11, Adam Ellis 9+1, Nick Morris 7+3, David Bellego 6+2, Zach Wajtknecht 6+1, Jack Smith 1.

King's Lynn 38: Robert Lambert 14, Niels-Kristian Iversen 8, Thomas Jorgensen 8, Kevin Doolan 5+1, Ben Morley 3+1, Lewis Kerr 0, Ty Proctor rider replacement.