REPORT:Poole Pirates v Plymouth Gladiators (Championship)

Pirates achieved their goal of being unbeaten in the SCB Cab Direct Championship home league matches with a narrow victory over the Plymouth Gladiators by a 48-42 score.

Gladiators guest for Nicolai Klindt, Dan Thompson lifted untimely on bend four of the opening lap of the evening and that allowed Richard Lawson to clear off into the sunset , but hopes of beginning with a heat advantage faded when Tobias Thomsen slipped back behind Lasse Fredriksen. But a heat gain was waiting in the wings, the badge of honour reserves race going the way of William Cairns and Paul Starke at the expense of former Pirate reserve berth holders Darryl Ritchings and Max Perry.  The early lead was extended further once Lewis Kerr went wide around Ben Barker on the second turn of the first lap of heat three, the heat restricted to a 4-2 as Zach Cook's chase back in third proved unsuccessful. A sluggish gate by Anders Rowe left him needing to negotiate the traffic before he could begin his pursuit of tapes to flag winner Scott Nicholls, but at least Cairns again beat Ritchings to prevent any score damage. That wasn't to be the case though in  heat five as Dan Thompson quickly found the fast outside in heat five. The race looked set to be strung out like bunting at a low cost village fete, but somehow Kerr became victim to a very late challenge from Fredriksen, converting Thompson's three points into a 4-2 for the visitors. (17-13)

An opportunity for a hit-back 5-1 slipped away from Poole when Thomsen skewed a little as he negotiated the pit turn for the first time in heat six, which Nicholls was sharp and close enough  to punish, Lawson winning with  lengths to spare. 
At their first opportunity Plymouth grabbed the tactical substitute option, drafting in Nicholls to pair up with Barker. The incoming rider made early headway and Rowe was working hard to maintain second place as Barker seemed intent on going round him. But, between turns three and four, the Cornishman lost control and took an almighty bang to his shoulder, dislocating it in the process. Solo rider Nicholls prevailed in the re-start for Plymouth and this sparked a resilient run of heats for the visitors.  He claimed a back-to-back victory when catching Cook unawares in heat nine, shared again as the habitual switching of reserves favoured by Garry May did Perry no favours. Lawson made it three starts and three wins but surprisingly Ritchings, covering for Barker's withdrawal, got the better of Thomsen so Poole completed the first ten heats leading by 34-26 and with hopes of kicking on to build up a decent lead for Saturday's return contest at the Coliseum.

To the vocal encouragement of the Poole crowd, Starke led Dan Thompson for two full laps, but once Dan took his man there was no way back for Starke, and it looked a similar situation for Rowe as Fredriksen was just edging him out, but Rowe dug in and won the tight battle to the line, demonstrating true Pirate Pride just for a point. Kerr finished his programmed rides as he had started with a convincing win, much to be expected as he was up against three reserves, but the Poole one, Will Cairns lost too much ground at the first turn and Ritchings and Perry were able to seal off the options and share the heat. Dan Thompson held firm in the first turn and using that favoured fast outside line managed to get ahead of Lawson, and the Rocketman suffered only his FIFTH home defeat in the league this season! After two snakes eyes on his card, Joe Thompson found a way to score and did so with a fine win in heat fourteen, chased by Starke with Cook in third, keen to try and get by his partner and have a challenge on Thompson but Starke remained in position. The victory had been confirmed but still six points only separated the two sides. Keen not to be beaten again by Dan Thompson, Lawson romped home but Kerr couldn't make any impression gradually losing sight of Nicholls' rear wheel. 
So if the Pirates are going to get any further bonus points this season they need to score forty-three or more in both their final two away matches - Plymouth and Oxford.

POOLE 48
Richard Lawson 3,3,3,2,3=14 (5)
Tobias Thomsen 0,1,1',1=3+1 (4)
Lewis Kerr 3,0,1',3,0=7+1 (5)
Zach Cook 1,2,2,1'=6+1 (4)
Anders Rowe 2,2,1',0=5+1 (4)
Paul Starke 2',1',2,2=7+2 (4)
William Cairns 3,1',2,0=6+1 (4)
.
PLYMOUTH 42
Dan Thompson 2,3,3,3,2=13 (5)
Lasse Fredriksen 1',1,3,0=5+1 (4)
Ben Barker 2,FD,NS,NS=2 (2)
Joe Thompson 0,TS,0,3=3 (3)
Scott Nicholls 3,2,3,3,1,1'=13+1 (6)
Darryl Ritchings 1,0,RS,0,RS,2,1',0=4+1 (6)
Max Perry 0,RS,0,RS,0,2,RS=2 (4)
.
Ht 1:  R.Lawson, D.Thompson, L.Fredriksen, T.Thomsen 3-3 3-3 [59.87]
Ht 2:  W.Cairns, P.Starke, D.Ritchings, M.Perry 5-1 8-4 [60.83]
Ht 3:  L.Kerr, B.Barker, Z.Cook, J.Thompson 4-2 12-6 [60.49]
Ht 4:  S.Nicholls, A.Rowe, W.Cairns, D.Ritchings 3-3 15-9 [60.78]
Ht 5:  D.Thompson, Z.Cook, L.Fredriksen, L.Kerr 2-4 17-13 [60.24]
Ht 6:  R.Lawson, S.Nicholls, T.Thomsen, M.Perry 4-2 21-15 [60.64]
Ht 7:  S.Nicholls, A.Rowe, P.Starke, B.Barker [fell exc], J.Thompson [Tac Subbed] 3-3 24-18 [61.1]
Ht 8:  L.Fredriksen, W.Cairns, T.Thomsen, D.Ritchings 3-3 27-21 [61.91]
Ht 9:  S.Nicholls, Z.Cook, L.Kerr, M.Perry 3-3 30-24 [61]
Ht 10:  R.Lawson, D.Ritchings, T.Thomsen, J.Thompson, B.Barker [NS] 4-2 34-26 [61.87]
Ht 11:  D.Thompson, P.Starke, A.Rowe, L.Fredriksen 3-3 37-29 [61.21]
Ht 12:  L.Kerr, M.Perry, D.Ritchings, W.Cairns, B.Barker [NS] 3-3 40-32 [61.36]
Ht 13:  D.Thompson, R.Lawson, S.Nicholls, A.Rowe 2-4 42-36 [60.56]
Ht 14:  J.Thompson, P.Starke, Z.Cook, D.Ritchings 3-3 45-39 [62.64]
Ht 15:  R.Lawson, D.Thompson, S.Nicholls, L.Kerr 3-3 48-42 [61.48]

SGB Referee  Dave Watters 
PLYMOUTH won toss and chose gates 1&3 | POOLE choose gates 1&3 in heat 15  
League Points: POOLE 2 PLYMOUTH 0
MEETING REACTION

Photo credits: Tony Hartmann & Liam Cockwell