LAKESIDE Hammers got their 2014 Elite League speedway season off to a winning start with a 47-44 victory over Swindon Robins.

The Hammers bounced back from their 48-42 warm-up challenge match defeat 48 hours earlier with success at Arena Essex Raceway.

Davey Watt, Rich Lawson and Mikkel Jensen all scored nine points for the hosts as they picked up two points to Swindon's one.