Report: Plymouth Gladiators v Poole Pirates

The Pirates begn their Championship Jubilee League group matches with a comprehensive victory at the Coliseum, defeating Plymouth 51-39 to acquire four league points.

It is not often an away team concedes maximum heat advantages in the opening and closing races and still come away with a twelve point winning margin, but the Pirates launched their Championship Jubilee league programme in such manner with this victory at the Coliseum.

On the hottest UK day since records the red hot temperatures began to be replaced by red-lights as the meeting became littered by race stoppages.

Ben Barker who has been red-hot around the circuit especially since moving to number one in the Gladiators' team was the first rider to cause them to come on as he anticipated the start of the opener but they were on again just over a lap of the re-start in, when Steve Worrall, having previously been squeezed at the first turn, went for an inside move the next time around  and ran into Alfie Bowtell with both riders hitting the deck. As well as the red light, on came Worrall's white disqualification bulb and we went for a third attempt.
In that, Drew Kemp led for a whole three laps but once he lost the lead to the persistent Bowtell he soon found himself as the last man to finish as Barker went by with ease, giving the Gladiators the perfect start.

Nathan Ablitt made a very good start in heat two but it was in vain as Harry McGurk fell at the first turn and all four riders went again. This time Ben Cook made it away first and Ablitt managed to get by Ben Morley to establish Poole's first reserves' heat maximum of the season thus levelling the scores.

Skipper Danny King was setting the pace in heat three but he was collected in a challenge by Lewis Kerr, guesting for the hosts, a move that gained Kerr a disqualification. King was again quick away in the re-run but partner Zach Cook couldn't get near to Bowtell, nevertheless though Poole opened up a two point lead. 

Those red lights were on again in heat four to make it a full house as far as first riders were concerned. This occasion it was Ablitt who was floored when pushed very wide by Morley, although no-one received any punishment and it was all four back. Richie Worrall, the second guest for the injury-ravaged Gladiators made a good start but Richard Lawson was with him. The Poole man tried to outfox him down the back straight by switching lines but it didn't quite pay off and consequently, with Morley third, the meeting went all square.
Morley, who had picked up that point in heat four was out again in the fifth but his race only went as far as the first turn as he fell and again on came those reds forcing a re-run without his eligibility. Kemp went by Kerr on the opening lap to set up the 4-2, Steve Worrall's third not one of his most memorable rides. 

Barker and Lawson were shoulder to shoulder into turn one in heat six and as they both went out for the wider line, Ben Cook filled a hole in the inside to get by Bowtell, a move that made it a shared heat.  King had good speed away from the tapes in heat seven and Zach Cook found a way to pass Richie Worrall that gave Poole a second 5-1 of the meeting. 

Ben Cook came in as a reserve switch in heat eight but couldn't remove Bowtell from second place, all the while Kemp was leading, but the heat advantage enabled Poole to extend their lead by a further two points.

Drama in heat nine as something on the third turn had a major effect on how the riders rode through it. Leader Richard Lawson hit it wrong and almost lost the initiative, but recovered just in time. Kerr though couldn't avoid losing places  as Ben Cook was eager to seize on any errors. Poole held a lead of ten points then after the first nine heats, and even Barker, using the whole of the track, couldn't do much about the situation as King led and staved him off. Bowtell's third place, ahead of Zach Cook at least, from a Plymouth point of view, prevented any further slippage as Garry May had the tactical option up his sleeve, clearing having thought Steve Worrall was susceptible. So, in came Barker to partner Richie Worrall, but the Poole number one was determined to improve his scorecard (and pay packet) and stormed to victory. For a brief moment there was hope that Poole might even increase their lead as Kemp almost worked his way into third place, but Richie Worrall cleverly blocked the move.

Danny King picked up a start warning in heat twelve but made a good wide pass on Kerr in the re-run, whilst Ben Cook saw off McGurk to give Poole yet another heat advantage. Richie Worrall joined the list of warned riders, referee Chris Durno producing a very colourful programme card, as he moved too early in heat thirteen. Once back at the tapes it was his brother, Steve, who was first away and the Pirates were assured of a meeting victory when Lawson made a great entry to the back straight to make it a 5-1. 

Although Kerr took the victory in heat fourteen, importantly for Poole the minor places were theirs and that meant it was going to be a full four points to open their group account with and whilst they would have liked to finished in style it wasn't to be as the Gladiators guests saw the meeting end with the same heat score as it had begun, a 5-1 in favour of the home side, but it was of no consolation to the Devon fans.

PLYMOUTH 39
B.Barker 2',3,2,2,0=9+1 (5)
A.Bowtell 3,2,0,2,1'=8+1 (5)
L.Kerr X0,2,0,2,3,2'=9+1 (6)
R.Replacement
R.Worrall 3,1,2,1',1,3=11+1 (6)
H.McGurk 0,0,TS,0,RS=0 (3)
B.Morley 1,1,FD,0,RS,0=2 (5)
.
POOLE 51
S.Worrall FD,1,3,3,0=7 (5)
D.Kemp 1,3,3,0=7 (4)
D.King 3,3,3,3=12 (4)
Z.Cook 1,2',0,2=5+1 (4)
R.Lawson 2,2,3,2',1=10+1 (5)
B.Cook 3,1',1,1,1=7+1 (5)
N.Ablitt 2',0,RS,1'=3+2 (3)
.
Ht 1:  A.Bowtell, B.Barker, D.Kemp, S.Worrall [fell exc] 5-1 5-1 [51.2]
Ht 2:  B.Cook, N.Ablitt, B.Morley, H.McGurk 1-5 6-6 [51.75]
Ht 3:  D.King, A.Bowtell, Z.Cook, L.Kerr [exc] 2-4 8-10 [51.66]
Ht 4:  R.Worrall, R.Lawson, B.Morley, N.Ablitt 4-2 12-12 [51.76]
Ht 5:  D.Kemp, L.Kerr, S.Worrall, B.Morley [fell exc] 2-4 14-16 [52.72]
Ht 6:  B.Barker, R.Lawson, B.Cook, A.Bowtell 3-3 17-19 [52.18]
Ht 7:  D.King, Z.Cook, R.Worrall, H.McGurk 1-5 18-24 [56.6]
Ht 8:  D.Kemp, A.Bowtell, B.Cook, B.Morley 2-4 20-28 [52]
Ht 9:  R.Lawson, R.Worrall, B.Cook, L.Kerr 2-4 22-32 [53.56]
Ht 10:  D.King, B.Barker, A.Bowtell, Z.Cook 3-3 25-35 [52.34]
Ht 11:  S.Worrall, B.Barker, R.Worrall, D.Kemp, H.McGurk [Tac Subbed] 3-3 28-38 [52.88]
Ht 12:  D.King, L.Kerr, B.Cook, H.McGurk 2-4 30-42 [52.22]
Ht 13:  S.Worrall, R.Lawson, R.Worrall, B.Barker 1-5 31-47 [52.56]
Ht 14:  L.Kerr, Z.Cook, N.Ablitt, B.Morley 3-3 34-50 [53.13]
Ht 15:  R.Worrall, L.Kerr, R.Lawson, S.Worrall 5-1 39-51 [52.9]
REFEREE: Chris Durno 
POOLE won toss and deferred choice to heat 15; PLYMOUTH chose gates 1&3 |POOLE choose gates 1&3 in heat 15  
League Points: PLYMOUTH 0 POOLE 4