REPORT: Redcar v Poole BSN Final

22/09/26

A reslient performance from the Wessex Marine Pirates, clawing back a mid-meeting twelve point deficit in the first leg of the BSN Final sets the second leg, at Wimborne Road on Wednesday night, up perfectly

The first few yards of the opening heat clearly demonstrated just how close tthis meeting was going to be as an even break by all four riders fractionally favoured the Pirates but proved irrelevant when Jake Mulford went down on the inside. In the all four re-run Will Cairns absolutely stormed away but the powerless Richard Lawson stuggled, later identifying that a broken fuel valve was sapping his power, but full credit to Cairns for taking the scalp of Charles Wright. Heat two proved to be a big one in the context of this meeting and potentially the tie, as Simon Lambert blasted his way to his first Bears' win and had Ace Pijper backing him up after Kyle Newman's attempt to gain ground after missing the gate faltered. Cooper Rushen found himself feeling the hardness of the track as he came down at the first turn and looked quite shaken once he was able to get to his feet. Shaken but 'stirred for action' in the rerun as he worked his way by Jake Allen on the first lap just after Jody Scott had locked up and fallen behind. Zach Cook was in no mood to hang around in heat four. Newman was throwing everything at Jason Edwards in an effort to narrow Redcar's lead but overcooked things and fell, scampering man and machine clear of danger just in time. Lawson's pace was back in heat six as he mastered his way by Allen to tuck in behind race controller Cairns, for a Poole 5-1 (15-15).

Frustrated by his openig defeat by Cairns, Wright was eager for a win and blasted away from Cook who was not hanging around himself, soon realising that any points coming Poole's way in this heat would be down to him, as guest for the evening Jordy Loftus failed to get out of the starting blocks. Real carnage was narrowly avoided in heat seven when Kerr locked up right in front of partner Rushen and it was Lambert's quick reactions that ensured it wasn't to look even more horrific. The outcome was limited to a dead leg and disqualification for Kerr and a bent bike for Rushen, but it paved the way for Pirates' big meeting nemesis, Simon Lambert to celebrate yet another Redcar win. This time supported by under pressure Jason Edwards,but nevertheless a vital 5-1. Backing that up were Mulford and Pijper in heat eight as neither Newman or Cairns could close the gap to an effective challenging position. Redcar now had momentum and with Cook's energies spent on trying to get by Scott, Allen was having an easier time in dictating proceedings. With the meeting possibly about to slip from Poole's grasp the battered Kerr had clearly been sprayed in Pirates' passion as he delivered a fine ride defeating Wright in the process. Rushen was unable to convert it to a heat advantage, but at least Poole stopped the slippage (36-24).

Illustrious Lawson appeared in heat eleven and sliced his way through the pack like a knife through butter - Lambert and Edwards his victims and then Cairns passed the hitherto unbeaten Lambert to make it a second heat advantage on the night for the Pirates. The comeback looked on, especially in the manner in which Newman and Kerr fought their respective ways by Scott down the back straight, but incredibly the newly crowned U19 champion found some favourable drive at the pits turn which gave him a turn of speed like no other and he found himself back in front. Just how important a comeback that was from the youngster remains to be seen. Cook was quick away again in heat thirteen and Lawson very keen to join him, first though he had to dispense with the threats from Wright who was breathing down his exhaust. Nevertheless the resulting 5-1 kept Poole very much in the meeting and in heat fourteen it was only possibly the kick-boards that were Rushen's problem as he brushed them on a couple of occasions on his charge out front. Few were watching the youngster though, for at the back the seniors were playing their part in a hefty duel. Lambert was pursuing Newman with intent, the Poole reserve doing a great job in protecting his third place until the final lap when Lambert appeared to find an opening. But he needed to keep the power on and in doing so just drifted out a little too far and Newman had the foresight to drive for the inside and secure the heat advantage which took the meeting into a huge last heat decider. No debating the competitors. Cook and Lawson knew they would have to work together to oust Wright and Allen and the intent shone through. Lawson was able to break up an early 5-1 but then did a 'Cooper' by hitting the boards on the exit of the second turn. Sparks flew and a chain dangled. Race over for the unlucky Lawson but Cook battled on hard and was able to split the home pairing to restrict the deficit to six points.

It is very much game on at Wimborne Road,

REDCAR 48
Charles Wright 2,3,2,1,3=11 (5)
Jake Mulford 1',1,3,1'=6+2 (4)
Jody Scott 0,0,1,3=4 (4)
Jake Allen 3,1,3,2,1=10 (5)
Jason Edwards 1',2',2,0=5+2 (4)
Simon Lambert 3,3,0,0=6 (4)
Ace Pijper 2',2,2',0=6+2 (4)

POOLE 42
Richard Lawson 0,2',3,2',R=7+2 (5)
William Cairns 3,3,R,1=7 (4)
Lewis Kerr 1',X0,3,2=6+1 (4)
Cooper Rushen 2,1,0,3=6 (4)
Zach Cook 3,2,2,3,2=12 (5)
Jordy Loftus 0,R,0,RS=0 (3)
Kyle Newman 1,F,1,1',1=4+1 (5)

Ht 1: W.Cairns, C.Wright, J.Mulford, R.Lawson 3-3 3-3 [54.4]
Ht 2: S.Lambert , A.Pijper, K.Newman, J.Loftus 5-1 8-4 [55.2]
Ht 3: J.Allen, C.Rushen, L.Kerr, J.Scott 3-3 11-7 [54.1]
Ht 4: Z.Cook, A.Pijper, J.Edwards, K.Newman [fell] 3-3 14-10 [54.5]
Ht 5: W.Cairns, R.Lawson, J.Allen, J.Scott 1-5 15-15 [54.2]
Ht 6: C.Wright, Z.Cook, J.Mulford, J.Loftus [rtd] 4-2 19-17 [54.2]
Ht 7: S.Lambert , J.Edwards, C.Rushen, L.Kerr [exc] 5-1 24-18 [55.4]
Ht 8: J.Mulford, A.Pijper, K.Newman, W.Cairns [rtd] 5-1 29-19 [55]
Ht 9: J.Allen, Z.Cook, J.Scott, J.Loftus 4-2 33-21 [55]
Ht 10: L.Kerr, C.Wright, J.Mulford, C.Rushen 3-3 36-24 [55.6]
Ht 11: R.Lawson, J.Edwards, W.Cairns, S.Lambert 2-4 38-28 [56.2]
Ht 12: J.Scott, L.Kerr, K.Newman, A.Pijper 3-3 41-31 [55.1]
Ht 13: Z.Cook, R.Lawson, C.Wright, J.Edwards 1-5 42-36 [55.7]
Ht 14: C.Rushen, J.Allen, K.Newman, S.Lambert 2-4 44-40 [55.2]
Ht 15: C.Wright, Z.Cook, J.Allen, R.Lawson [rtd] 4-2 48-42 [56.3]
SGB Referee Mr Willie Dishington
Meeting Reaction