REPORT: Poole Pirates v Edinburgh

Pirates won the clash between third and second to go top of the table with a 14 point advantage for the bonus point when the go to Armdale a week on Friday

POOLE 52
Richard Lawson 2',2',3,2',2'=11+4 (5)
William Cairns 3,3,1',0=7+1 (4)
Lewis Kerr 3,2',1,2=8+1 (4)
Cooper Rushen 0,3,FD,1=4 (4)
Zach Cook 3,3,3,3,3=15 (5)
Sam Hagon 1',F,2',0,RS=3+2 (4)
Kyle Newman 2,0,2,0=4 (4)

EDINBURGH 38
Dan Thompson 1,1,3,1,1,0=7 (6)
Jonatan Grahn 0,0,0,RS=0 (3)
Justin Sedgmen 1',2,2,1=6+1 (4)
Michele Castagna 2,1',1',2',1=7+3 (5)
Kye Thomson 1',1,2',FD=4+2 (4)
Mitchell Cluff 3,2,0,3,TS,0,3,3=14 (7)
Jordy Loftus FD,RS,RS,RS=0 (1)

Ht 1: W.Cairns, R.Lawson, D.Thompson, J.Grahn 5-1 5-1 [60.81]
Ht 2: M.Cluff, K.Newman, S.Hagon, J.Loftus [fell exc] 3-3 8-4 [62.09]
Ht 3: L.Kerr, M.Castagna, J.Sedgmen, C.Rushen 3-3 11-7 [61.19]
Ht 4: Z.Cook, M.Cluff, K.Thomson, K.Newman 3-3 14-10 [60.8]
Ht 5: C.Rushen, L.Kerr, D.Thompson, J.Grahn 5-1 19-11 [60.05]
Ht 6: W.Cairns, R.Lawson, K.Thomson, M.Cluff 5-1 24-12 [61.11]
Ht 7: Z.Cook, J.Sedgmen, M.Castagna, S.Hagon [fell] 3-3 27-15 [61.36]
Ht 8: M.Cluff, K.Newman, W.Cairns, J.Grahn 3-3 30-18 [62.31]
Ht 9: D.Thompson, K.Thomson, L.Kerr, C.Rushen [fell exc], M.Cluff [Tac Subbed] 1-5 31-23 [61.87]
Ht 10: R.Lawson, J.Sedgmen, M.Castagna, W.Cairns 3-3 34-26 [62.12]
Ht 11: Z.Cook, S.Hagon, D.Thompson, M.Cluff 5-1 39-27 [62.14]
Ht 12: M.Cluff, L.Kerr, J.Sedgmen, S.Hagon 2-4 41-31 [62.58]
Ht 13: Z.Cook, R.Lawson, D.Thompson, K.Thomson [fell exc] 5-1 46-32 [AWD]
Ht 14: M.Cluff, M.Castagna, C.Rushen, K.Newman 1-5 47-37 [62.92]
Ht 15: Z.Cook, R.Lawson, M.Castagna, D.Thompson 5-1 52-38 []

SGB Referee Mr Simon Humphrey-Kennett

Speed was not a word that could be associated with the smoothness of this third versus second clash but William Cairns had plenty of it in the first heat as he left Lawson to ease out Jonatan Grahn in the battle to the first turn and in truth that was probably the nearest Grahn got to causing Poole any problems for the rest of the evening. There was drama in heat two when Jordy Loftus locked up in the first turn and there was no route round him for Kyle Newman, his bike running into the stricken Monarch and over his bike. Both riders needed plenty of time before being able to get to their feet, Loftus disqualified and Newman having to battle against the pain barrier to take his place in the re-start. His riding partner, Sam Hagon then ran him a bit too eagerly in the re-run, although Newman did well to stay aboard despite being sent out into the deep stuff. His quick reactions to cover gave him time to set chase on Mitchell Cluff and Newman made a good fist of it in fairness, although the heat points were shared. Lewis Kerr showed true class as he shrugged off Michele 'Paco' Castagna early doors. Cooper Rushen found a bit of speed on the second lap but it wasn't enough to get by Justin Sedgmen. A sun-break and track grade, extended by a medical emergency on the terraces all conspired to delay heat four but when it eventually got to tapes it was Newman's ability to hold up Kye Thomson sufficiently long enough to give Zach Cook the chance to pick off Cluff and win comfortably, although with Newman dropping to the back the spoils were once again shared. Kerr seemed to stutter off the start line in heat five but found a great line into turn one to join the fast trapping Rushen - the tassles flapping wildly as Cooper set the fastest time of the night and with two 5-1's from the opening five heats Poole were in the ascendency (19-11).

Had Cairns tried to go any wider round the first turn of heat six, then he would have been on the railway track but Lawson was happy to let him go and just deal with the interests of Thomson, for 5-1 number three. In heat seven Cook showed great courage to maintain the outside run that had been blocked by Sedgmen on the opening lap. Zach was close enough to read the fence manufacture's name but he kept his nerve and blitzed by his fellow Aussie on the second lap, giving those sat in the glass grandstand a close-up of his racing boots no doubt. Once clear there was no further threat to Cook but backmarker Hagon fell on the final circuit and stayed down for some while before being able to make the long trek back to the pits on foot. With Loftus ruled out it was going to be a busy night for his fellow reserve and the Monarchs were blessed that Cluff was loving his time on the south coast. He was able to get away sharply in heat eight and whilst Newman squeezed between him and Grahn, Cluff was giving no ground away. Cairns followed Newman through for the heat share. Rather than make Cluff do two on the bounce, Edinburgh introduced Thompson as a tactical substitute. He and Kye Thomson put the clamp on Rushen heading into the second turn and Rushen had nowhere to go other than down and it took some smart work by Kerr to avoid. Ultimately the decision ruled that Rushen was the cause of the stoppage and that put even more pressure on Kerr. Seeking the wide line early, Kerr lost ground and nine heats in the Monarchs claimed their first heat advantage and closed the deficit by four. In heat ten, Cairns was in danger of being scissored like Rushen had been, so he quickly switched to the inside but was still unable to get by. Whilst he was able to make a very strong comeback during last lap the damage had been done and Poole had to rely on Lawson for their points from that one. (34-26).

Much needed by Poole, guest Hagon delivered a hard fought second place behind Cook. He had to be on full alert as Thompson was all over him but it was an excellent ride, cheered all the way by the grateful Poole fans. He was rewarded by stand-in manager Matt Ford by having to do two on the trot as a replacement for  Newman, but there was to be no repeat this time around. Kerr did well to go under Sedgmen to split Monarchs on opening lap but the impressive Cluff won again. Cook and Lawson had heat thirteen sewn up but the race was stopped on the third lap when Kye Thomsen, going into the first turn, fell. He might have caught the rear wheel of Dan Thompson but whatever it was, he was thrown off the bike and took a heavy fall. Content that there was unlikely to be any jeopardy in the heat the race was awarded as a 5-1 to Poole which ensured Poole would be going 26 home meetings unbeaten. Cluff was out again in heat fourteen and for the fourth time enjoyed a race win, this time it wasn't the full allocation of Edinburgh's race points down to him as captain Castagna backed him up, moving clear of Newman who had, in the early stages made an attempt to try and split them apart. Cook and Lawson both secured their personal maximums with a relatively untroubled heat fifteen 5-1 to secure a 14-point victory - vital with the two sides due to meet at Armadale in nine days time.

Photo Credits: Tony Hartmann & Liam Cockwell