REPORT: GRAND FINAL FIRST LEG - GLASGOW v POOLE

9/10/23

Poole 'Wessex Marine' Pirates got off to a troublesome start in their twice delayed first leg Grand Final at Glasgow but managed to ebb the tide somewhat with a containment job over the last nine heats, that gives them hope of retaining their league title if they can claw back a fourteen point deficit on Wednesday night.

A string of problems beset the Pirates in the opening half a dozen heats, including a debatable disqualification for Joe Thompson in heat two, when the Poole reserve had battled hard to get into a heat advantage position whilst team-mate Kyle Newman led. But with Ace Pijper falling and Thompson adjudged to have been the cause, Newman had to go solo in the re-run and lost out to Lee Complin.

Ben Cook had two starting offences against his name in heat three, firstly touching the tapes in his eagerness to get away and then failing to beat the time allowance to take his place from a handicap start. That left brother Zach as the only Pirate in the third heat and soon Poole were looking down the end of the barrel as Vadim Tarasenko and Ben Basso pushed Glasgow ten points clear. Within a further three heats, through unbeaten rides for a second time by Tarasenko (heat 4), Chris Harris (5) and Basso (6) that lead had increased to sixteen (26-10) as Poole suffered further problems in heat six with Newman packing up ahead of the start forcing Joe Thompson back on track for the fourth time in the space of six heats whilst Worrall and Thompson both fell victims to Tiger passing in the heats either side.
Poole still couldn’t find a race winner and were eighteen adrift before Steve Worrall became a winner in heat nine, Newman converting it into a heat gain. A follow-up looked on the cards through the Cook brothers but play-off specialist Chris Harris produced the sort of ride he is renowned for to share the tenth, the score now 38-22 in favour of Glasgow.

Richard Lawson made a good start in heat eleven but all eyes in the stadium were on the action at the back as Thompson led Tarasenko. Whilst the Russian patiently bided his time to make a move on the final lap, Thompson was not done for and he mounted a similarly eager challenge, finding a great line off the fourth turn and winning the run to the line for third place, and without too much doubt receiving the vote for Poole Rider of the Night.. Heat twelve was well strung out but crucially for Poole it was Ben Cook and Newman occupying the minor scoring positions whilst Basso led. Heat thirteens are always billed as big and this was no exception with the unbeaten Harris and freshly defeated Tarasenko lining up alongside Lawson and Worrall, the pair only having two wins between them. An early looking 5-1 in the visitors' favour was re-shaped by more of that Bomber brilliance who came from behind to take the victory, but with Tarasenko never truly in the hunt, Poole were at least able to put the brakes on a Glasgow side who earlier were looking like running riot.

Zach Cook stormed to victory in heat fourteen and Poole completed the holding job by holding out Basso in heat fifteen, although unable to prevent Harris from securing his paid maximum.

Having out-pointed the Tigers 23-19 in the final seven heats the Pirates can take some heart that they have at least left the tie in a do-able if not easy state ahead of the concluding return leg.

GLASGOW 52
Chris Harris 2',3,3,3,3=14+1 (5)
Tom Brennan 3,2',3,0,1'=9+2 (5)
Ben Basso 2',3,2,3,0=10+1 (5)
Rider Replacement
Vadim Tarasenko 3,3,3,0,0=9 (5)
Lee Complin 3,1,RS,1,R,2,2=9 (6)
Ace Pijper 1,0,0,RS,0=1 (4)
Jack Smith =0 ()
POOLE 38
Richard Lawson 1,2,3,1',2=9+1 (5)
Rider Replacement
Ben Cook N2,2,2,2=6 (3)
Zach Cook 1,1',2,1',3=8+2 (5)
Steve Worrall 2,1,3,2,1'=9+1 (5)
Kyle Newman 0,2,N2,0,1,1'=4+1 (5)
Joe Thompson X0,1',0,R,RS,1,0=2+1 (6)
.
Ht 1: T.Brennan, C.Harris, R.Lawson, K.Newman 5-1 5-1 [56.86]
Ht 2: L.Complin, K.Newman, A.Pijper, J.Thompson [exc] 4-2 9-3 [57.67]
Ht 3: V.Tarasenko, B.Basso, Z.Cook B.Cook (exc tapes/exc 2mins) 5-1 14-4 [57.22]
Ht 4: V.Tarasenko, S.Worrall, J.Thompson, A.Pijper 3-3 17-7 [57.78]
Ht 5: B.Basso, R.Lawson, L.Complin, J.Thompson 4-2 21-9 [57.12]
Ht 6: C.Harris, T.Brennan, S.Worrall, J.Thompson [rtd] 5-1 26-10 [57.25]
Ht 7: V.Tarasenko, B.Cook, Z.Cook, A.Pijper 3-3 29-13 [58.02]
Ht 8: T.Brennan, Z.Cook, L.Complin, K.Newman 4-2 33-15 [58.17]
Ht 9: S.Worrall, B.Basso, K.Newman, L.Complin [rtd] 2-4 35-19 [57.75]
Ht 10: C.Harris, B.Cook, Z.Cook, T.Brennan 3-3 38-22 [57.27]
Ht 11: R.Lawson, L.Complin, J.Thompson, V.Tarasenko 2-4 40-26 [58.33]
Ht 12: B.Basso, B.Cook, K.Newman, A.Pijper 3-3 43-29 [58.29]
Ht 13: C.Harris, S.Worrall, R.Lawson, V.Tarasenko 3-3 46-32 [57.75]
Ht 14: Z.Cook, L.Complin, T.Brennan, J.Thompson 3-3 49-35 [58.69]
Ht 15: C.Harris, R.Lawson, S.Worrall, B.Basso 3-3 52-38 [57.61]