Leicester Lions v Poole Pirates (KOC)

18/09/21

Poole went down fighting at Beaumont Park, Leicester in the first leg of the KO Cup semi-final

A none-too auspicious start for the Pirates left them six points adrift after just two heats in this first leg cup semi-final. Danyone Hume's efforts in both those races not being justly rewarded. Although in third place in heat two he had been working hard to try and catch Joe Thompson after the Lion reserve had earlier passed both Pirates. But on the final lap, as they left turn three, Hume lost control and guest Dillon Ruml reacted swiftly to lay his bike down.

Steve Worrall was sharp away in heat three and Ben Cook a little scary, in all honesty, as he took over Ryan Douglas' line coming off turn four for the first time. The legal move may have unsetted Douglas for he entered turn one all wrong and slid off, Poole making the most of his absence to bank the 5-1. Skipper Danny King swept into the lead to negate Hans Andersen and Zaine Kennedy's good starts; Hume at last getting a hard-earned point as he got by Kennedy to level the meeting scores. They stayed that way after Howarth pulled up in heat five, ending his chase of guest Charles Wright who could only see the back end of Douglas throughout. Nick Morris made it two strong wins from two rides, offering Danny King no chances in heat six, but Leicester moved ahead again with Dan Thompson holding out Ruml. Hans Andersen made a better start than Worrall and led throughout, whilst Cook and Joe Thompson slugged it out for the minor placings, Cook prevailing with some true determination

Benefitting from a grading break, Cook did two on the trot, and comfortably won heat eight that had the look of a Poole gain about it throughout. A strong last lap from Hume made it a maximum gain as he passed Kennedy enabling the Pirates to go into a meeting lead for the first time, 23-35. Douglas led home King in heat nine and Hume was unable to hold off Howarth's second lap challenge as the scores levelled up. That man Morris was on the pace again in heat ten, but Worrall and Cook packed the other point scoring positions, still all-square at 30-all. Hans Andersen and Charles Wright endured a four lap battle in heat eleven, the Lion getting the win, which, with Joe Thompson's third place, allowed Leicester to regain the lead.

A cracking finish to heat twelve saw Ruml just get by Kennedy on the line, an important pass as it supported Worrall's victory over Douglas and squared the scores once again. But it was Leicester who had the stronger finish. Morris (still unbeaten) and Andersen working well to block out Wright in heat thirteen and then in the penultimate heat Joe Thompson eventually worked his way by Hume in another close finish just as Howarth had come to the party. Morris duly completed his maximum and in arguably the best race of the night, Wright and Andersen battled out four breathtaking laps of speedway, Wright eventually securing second place which kept Poole's deficit to just single points. 49-41 the final outcome.

LEICESTER 49
Nick Morris 3,3,3,3,3 =15
Dan Thompson 1,1,0,0 =2
Ryan Douglas F,3,3,2 =8
Kyle Howarth 1,R,1,3 =5
Hans Andersen 2,3,3,2',1 =11+1
Joe Thompson 2',0,1,1 =4+1
Zaine Kennedy 3,0,1,0 =4

POOLE 41
Charles Wright 2,2,2,1,2 =9
R/R
Steve Worrall 3,2,2,3,0 =10
Ben Cook 2',1',3,1',2 =9+3
Danny King 3,2,2,0 =7
Dillion Ruml 1,1',0,1 =3+1
Danyon Hume 0,XD,1,2',0,0,0 =3+1
.
Ht.1 N.Morris,C.Wright,D.Thompson,D.Hume,4-2 4-2 (61.56)
Ht.2 Z.Kennedy,J.Thompson,D.Ruml,D.Hume (Disqualified),5-1 9-3 (awd)
Ht.3 S.Worrall,B.Cook,K.Howarth,R.Douglas (fell),1-5 10-8 (61.79)
Ht.4 D.King,H.Andersen,D.Hume,Z.Kennedy,2-4 12-12 (62)
Ht.5 R.Douglas ,C.Wright,D.Ruml,K.Howarth (rtd),3-3 15-15 (62.34)
Ht.6 N.Morris,D.King,D.Thompson,D.Ruml,4-2 19-17 (61.38)
Ht.7 H.Andersen,S.Worrall,B.Cook,J.Thompson,3-3 22-20 (62.25)
Ht.8 B.Cook,D.Hume,Z.Kennedy,D.Thompson,1-5 23-25 (62.59)
Ht.9 R.Douglas ,D.King,K.Howarth,D.Hume,4-2 27-27 (62.38)
Ht.10 N.Morris,S.Worrall,B.Cook,D.Thompson,3-3 30-30 (62.37)
Ht.11 H.Andersen,C.Wright,J.Thompson,D.Hume,4-2 34-32 (62.59)
Ht.12 S.Worrall,R.Douglas ,D.Ruml,Z.Kennedy,2-4 36-36 (61.66)
Ht.13 N.Morris,H.Andersen,C.Wright,D.King,5-1 41-37 (62.1)
Ht.14 K.Howarth,B.Cook,J.Thompson,D.Hume,4-2 45-39 (62.78)
Ht.15 N.Morris,C.Wright,H.Andersen,S.Worrall,4-2 49-41 (62.41)
SCB Referee:Phil Griffin
LEICESTER win toss and take gates 1&3 POOLE take gates 1&3 in heat 15
Rider of the Night: Ben Cook