LEE GALLEY got Southampton's cycle speedway team off to a winning start in the revamped British League South-West.

He top-scored with 20 points as Saints won their season's opener with a 104-75 victory against a depleted Swindon side.

With new rules dictating that teams could only field four of their top riders, the match provid-ed closer racing than might have been the case.

Swindon started well with Craig Nash driving round the outside of a surprised Galley for a heat win.

However, Southampton's strength in depth soon became evident as they reeled off a suc-cession of heat wins to assert their authority.

Swindon bounced back with Craig Nash inflicting two defeats on Southampton's world junior champion, Shaun Woodhouse, who raced him all the way to the line.

Saints pulled further away in the second half with some deter-mined riding from Damien Hurst and Barry Janaway backing up the heat leaders.

Janaway received a controversial exclusion in his second ride as a Swindon rider hit the fence whilst he was attempting a passing manoeuvre on the inside of the last bend.

This was a convincing win for a Southampton side that is going to take some stopping again this year.

There were strong perfor-mances from all the top riders, although surprisingly Pete Young was the only home rider unbeaten by an opponent.

Youngsters Tom Collins and Paul Janaway battled hard against their more experienced opponents and gained valuable first team experience.

Southampton scorers: Lee Galley 20 (6), Damien Hurst 19+3 (6), Pete Young 16 (4), Toby Millen 15 (4), Shaun Woodhouse 14 (4), Barry Janaway 13+3 (6), Tom Collins 4 (3), Paul Janaway 3 (3).

Southampton's second team lost 44-35 to an experienced Swindon side.

Tom Collins got the match off to a great start as he raced away at the front for an easy victory.

Swindon then took a 7-3 heat win to take the lead which they never lost.

Paul Janaway grabbed the lead for Saints in heat 4 before the Swindon rider forced his way past.

Heat five saw a superb race from Collins as he powered passed both his opponents to take the che-quered flag.

But a Swindon 7-3 over Jack Galley and Tasha Collins ensured them victory.

The final heat capped a memo-rable day for the Collins family as Tom Collins won the race to secure a well deserved maximum on the same day that his sister Tasha Collins made her debut for the club.

Although beaten, the home side put up a spirited showing with Paul Janaway always in the thick of the action for his nine point total, and eight-year-old Jack Galley battling hard for his 6pts.

Southampton scorers: Tom Collins 16 (4), Paul Janaway 9 (4), Jack Galley 6+1 (4), Tasha Collins 4 (4)

The Saints will be back in action this Sunday (April 21) when they entertain Leicester, who include double world champion Mark Newey, in a Premier League meeting.

Tapes go up at 3pm at the Winchester Road track. Admission is free.