REPORT: Plymouth Gladiators 41 Poole Pirates 49

24/08/24

Poole achieved their goal of collecting all three available league points from this fixture but it took a determined turn-around over the second half of the meeting to seal the 49-41 victory that keeps them on track for a potential top-spot finish ahead of the title-deciding play-offs.

An untroubled tapes to flag victory for Richard Lawson coupled with a ride from Sam Hagon that the shake of the head as he left turn two spoke volumes, set the tone of the early stages of this meeting, it wasn't going to be easy against the Gladiators who still clung to thin threads of a potential play-off grab. In heat two Paul Starke rode hard to get into second place but by the second bend his machine opted to give way and the home side were celebrating the first heat advantage of the affair. The Cook brothers appeared to do well in heat three as they partnered up to squeeze Dan Thompson out but the twenty year old is not, arguably, the most improved rider of the season for nothing as he kept his nerve and worked a passage by Zach to at least protect some of the Gladiators lead. The situation for Poole was set to get a little worse as Tom Brennan had two Plymouth riders ahead of him for all of three laps, but he produced a perfect move to go under Jacob Hook who then lost concentration and ended wrapped up in the airfence, with the red lights coming on. It seemed a longer time than necessary for the referee to reach the decision which even led to confusion as it was announced as an awarded race but a time was stated. Crucially, though Poole had squared the heat so the two point deficit remained.

Left with work to do following a slow start, by his standards, Lawson wasted little time in passing both Gladiators whilst Hagon failed to make any real impression on a slowing Patryk Baek. So another shared heat and a third such one was on its way in heat six. Starke was very much in the mix at the first turn but lost position. To his credit he soon recovered with forceful, but fair, move on Hook to guarantee the 3-3 for whilst Brennan was getting closer to leader Dan Thompson lap-by-lap there was never really the opportunity for him to make a move. Ben Cook was yards ahead throughout heat seven but Zach found himself pegged at the back and so yet another shared heat was chalked up, and still Plymouth led - just.

The sequence was broken, comprehensively for the Gladiators as Alfie Bowtell and Joe Thompson kept the ever-battling Ben Trigger at bay. That advantage lined Lawson up for a tactical substitute ride and he and Brennan made a great fist of getting out of the gate sharply. But Dan Thompson was equally impressive and managed to get in between the top Poole pair and then denied Lawson any way back. Was that the opportunity gone for the Pirates? Their tactical option used and still trailed by four.

Zach Cook gated superbly in heat ten but looked more than a little surprised when he glanced across and realised his brother wasn't alongside him! Ben had missed the start and was struggling to get anywhere near into contention. Dan Ford made an inspired change, introducing Starke at the expense of Hagon. The incoming ex-Pirate and Gladiator gated along with Lawson and then dug in to block out Barker to secure Poole's first maximum heat advantage and even more crucially square the match, thus guaranteeing the bonus point. Immediately back out for two-on-the-trot Starke did all the hard work to lead heat twelve throughout, until leaving the fourth turn for the final time when Dan Thompson hunted him down to inch Plymouth back into the lead, Ben Cook's topsy turvy night continuing with another uncharacteristic last place.

Lawson and Brennan seemed in full control of heat thirteen until Barker rammed into the back end of Brennan launching him into the air-barrier and again a clear-cut verdict seemed to take an inordinate length of time to reach, the referee insistent on watching the replays. When it was made it was the expected one, Barker disqualified and race to be re-run. Bravely, Brennan remounted and wasted little time in getting clear, having teammate Lawson tucked in behind him to keep Bowtell at bay. A second Poole maximum and this one took them ahead for the first time on the night. Zach Cook's revitalisation continued and with the introduction of Starke, this time in place of Trigger, paying better dividends than Hook's stand-in ride for Baek, Poole banked a 4-2 to provide a cushion of four points going into the last heat decider. Zach Cook and Lawson finished the job comprehensively, avoiding any last minute dramas to give Poole an eight point victory, maintaining their chances of still finishing top of the league but ending Plymouth's play-off aspirations.

PLYMOUTH 41
Rider Replacement RR,RR,RR,RR=0 ()
Alfie Bowtell 2,0,3,1',1=7+1 (5)
Dan Thompson 2,2,3,2,3,1=13 (6)
Patryk Baek 0,1',R,RS=1+1 (3)
Ben Barker 1',3,2,1,X0,0=7+1 (6)
Joe Thompson 3,1',2',2,RS,1,2=11+2 (6)
Jacob Hook 2',F,RS,0,RS,0=2+1 (4)
.
POOLE 49
Richard Lawson 3,3,1,2',2',3=14+2 (6)
Sam Hagon 0,0,0,RS=0 (3)
Ben Cook 3,3,0,0=6 (4)
Zach Cook 1,0,3,3,2'=9+1 (5)
Tom Brennan 2,2,3,3=10 (4)
Paul Starke R,1',TS,3,2,1=7+1 (5)
Ben Trigger 1,1',1,RS=3+1 (3)
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Ht 1: R.Lawson, A.Bowtell, B.Barker, S.Hagon 3-3 3-3 [52.41]
Ht 2: J.Thompson, J.Hook, B.Trigger, P.Starke [rtd] 5-1 8-4 [54.55]
Ht 3: B.Cook, D.Thompson, Z.Cook, P.Baek 2-4 10-8 [53.16]
Ht 4: B.Barker, T.Brennan, B.Trigger, J.Hook [fell] 3-3 13-11 [53.2]
Ht 5: R.Lawson, D.Thompson, P.Baek, S.Hagon 3-3 16-14 [52.99]
Ht 6: D.Thompson, T.Brennan, P.Starke, A.Bowtell 3-3 19-17 [53.06]
Ht 7: B.Cook, B.Barker, J.Thompson, Z.Cook 3-3 22-20 [53.29]
Ht 8: A.Bowtell, J.Thompson, B.Trigger, S.Hagon 5-1 27-21 [54.45]
Ht 9: T.Brennan, D.Thompson, R.Lawson, P.Baek [rtd], P.Starke [Tac Subbed] 2-4 29-25 [52.87]
Ht 10: Z.Cook, J.Thompson, A.Bowtell, B.Cook 3-3 32-28 [53.51]
Ht 11: P.Starke, R.Lawson, B.Barker, J.Hook 1-5 33-33 [53.63]
Ht 12: D.Thompson, P.Starke, J.Thompson, B.Cook 4-2 37-35 [53.93]
Ht 13: T.Brennan, R.Lawson, A.Bowtell, B.Barker [exc] 1-5 38-40 [53.13]
Ht 14: Z.Cook, J.Thompson, P.Starke, J.Hook 2-4 40-44 [53,55]
Ht 15: R.Lawson, Z.Cook, D.Thompson, B.Barker 1-5 41-49 []

SGB Referee Mr Simon Humphrey-Kennett
POOLE won toss and chose gates 1&3 | PLYMOUTH choose gates 1&3 in heat 15
League Points: PLYMOUTH 0 POOLE 3