REPORT: Poole Pirates v Berwick Bandits

Pirates maintain their unbeaten league form with a comprehensive win over the Berwick Bandits, spearheaded by the uinbeaten Zach Cook

POOLE 60
Sam Masters 2,2',3,2'=9+2 (4)
William Cairns 1',3,3,2',0=9+2 (5)
Lewis Kerr 3,1,3,2=9 (4)
Cooper Rushen 2',0,2',1'=5+3 (4)
Zach Cook 3,3,3,3,3=15 (5)
Edward Kennett 2',1,1,2=6+1 (4)
Kyle Newman 3,1,2',1'=7+2 (4)
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BERWICK 30
Drew Kemp 0,2',R,0,0=2+1 (5)
Jye Etheridge 3,3,F,2,2=10 (5)
Victor Palovaara 0,0,0,3=3 (4)
Jordan Jenkins 1,2,1,3,1'=8+1 (5)
Nick Morris 2,1,1,1=5 (4)
Jack Smith 1EH,0,TS,0=1 (3)
Reid Battye 0,0,1,0=1 (4)
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Ht 1:  J.Etheridge, S.Masters, W.Cairns, D.Kemp 3-3 3-3 [59.96]
Ht 2:  K.Newman, E.Kennett, J.Smith[15m handicap], R.Battye 5-1 8-4 [61.16]
Ht 3:  L.Kerr, C.Rushen, J.Jenkins, V.Palovaara 5-1 13-5 [60.39]
Ht 4:  Z.Cook, N.Morris, K.Newman, R.Battye 4-2 17-7 [60.04]
Ht 5:  J.Etheridge, D.Kemp, L.Kerr, C.Rushen 1-5 18-12 [60.51]
Ht 6:  W.Cairns, S.Masters, N.Morris, J.Smith 5-1 23-13 [61.1]
Ht 7:  Z.Cook, J.Jenkins, E.Kennett, V.Palovaara 4-2 27-15 [60.68]
Ht 8:  W.Cairns, K.Newman, R.Battye, J.Etheridge [fell] 5-1 32-16 [61.94]
Ht 9:  L.Kerr, C.Rushen, N.Morris, D.Kemp [rtd], J.Smith [Tac Subbed] 5-1 37-17 [60.44]
Ht 10:  S.Masters, W.Cairns, J.Jenkins, V.Palovaara 5-1 42-18 [61.58]
Ht 11:  Z.Cook, J.Etheridge, E.Kennett, D.Kemp 4-2 46-20 [61.36]
Ht 12:  V.Palovaara, L.Kerr, K.Newman, J.Smith 3-3 49-23 [62.71]
Ht 13:  Z.Cook, S.Masters, N.Morris, D.Kemp 5-1 54-24 [61.93]
Ht 14:  J.Jenkins, E.Kennett, C.Rushen, R.Battye 3-3 57-27 [62.31]
Ht 15:  Z.Cook, J.Etheridge, J.Jenkins, W.Cairns 3-3 60-30 [62.23]

SGB Referee Mr Dave Watters 
 

Possibly inspired by the jeers he received on parade, Berwick's captain Jye Etheridge landed the first blow of the night as he cleverly blocked the efforts of Sam Masters, guesting for the absent Richard Lawson. In third place Will Cairns had little problem in keeping Berwick's guest Drew Kemp at bay. Jack Smith moved far too early in heat two, smashing through the tapes and being sent back fifteen metres for the re-start of heat two. Kyle Newman and his guest partner Eddie Kennet both settled into their groove, team-riding as if it were second nature to them both. Reid Battye fell but hastily remounted, but it did allow Smith the advantage to take the point.  Both Lewis Kerr and Cooper Rushen made the best of getting into their preferred lines coming out of turn one, allowing Jordan Jenkins, who had passed Victor Palovaara, no chance of preventing Poole's second 5-1. Nick Morris was able to do so in heat four when he went by Newman, but Zach Cook was far too pacy to be troubled. It was quickly looking as if Poole's biggest threat was going to be Etheridge, as he gated sharply alongside partner Kemp gate to check Poole's progress. (18-12)

It was just a blip though, as far as Poole were concerned as Masters clamped Morris on the inside allowing Cairns to swoop round on his preferred wider line and take up the initiative. Masters made a small error around the south bend on the third lap, but reacted sharply enough to deny Morris a route by. Jenkins and Cook had an entertaining battle in heat seven that forced the Poole skipper to produce a brilliant move on the the third lap to regain the early lead that he had established and thus converting Kennett's point, deserved for his pass on Palovaara, into a 4-2 for the Pirates. Newman had to be at his best in heat eight as Cairns made all the running. The Poole number seven, at the back initially, dug deep and passed both Battye and the unbeaten Etheridge, within the opening lap and was determined to protect the 5-1. Heat nine was physical. Tactical substitute Kemp made contact with Kerr as they started their second lap, but the Poole man wasn't to be perturbed by that, whilst Kemp's reward was to be squeezed out by his own teammate, Morris who was keen to try and reel in Rushen , an in vain project. Sam Masters clearly enjoyed his heat 10 5-1 with Cairns, pulling a wheelie to celebrate with. (42-18)

Kennett twice slipped by Kemp in heat eleven with consummate ease on the opening two laps, a feat made even more remarkable considering he had lost his steel shoe en-route. Etheridge kept distance between himself and Kennett but Cook was out ahead taking Poole onto an uncatchable 46 points. Palovaara opened his account with a race win as he was hotly chased by Kerr, but it was to only be a shared heat as Newman had passed Smith early doors. In heat twelve, Morris found some pace on lap two and came within a breadth of splitting the leading Poole pair of Cook and Masters but they buckled down after that threat and secured a 5-1. Jenkins showed what he is capable of doing and led all the way in heat fourteen, but Rushen made an emphatic pass on Battye to ensure that the heat will be shared. Etheridge gave Cook a run for his money but was unable to prevent the Poole captain from completing his 5-ride maximum as the meeting closed as it had started with a share of the spoils. It was the might of the Pirates in between those heats that gives them a strong chance of an aggregate bonus point at least when the sides meet again in August. 

Meeting Reaction

Photo credits: Tony Hartmann & Liam Cockwell