RESULT: POOLE 45 BELLE VUE 45

Defending league champions Poole had to settle for a hard earned draw against in-form Belle Vue Aces, a result that has left the Pirates with just one home win from three Wimborne Road league meetings so far this season.

The Aces took an early grip on the meeting with two heat advantages in the first three heats and had a suitable response even after Poole, in heat 4 through Gomolski and the ever-battling Kyle Newman, claimed the lions share of the points on offer.  Max Fricke who had beaten Holder into third place in the opening heat then showed a good turn of speed off the tapes to win heat 5 with reserve Steve Worrall getting the better of Paul Starke to restore the visitor's 6 point lead.

Guest Richard Lawson, in for injured skipper Maciej Janowski showed nerves of steel as he bravely bustled round the wide first turn to join stand-in captain Holder at the front, before Aces' trump card Craig Cook shot by Holder to deny Poole the maximum points they were on the prowl for. Poole fans though didn't have long to wait for that elusive 5-1 as Gomolski's take-no-prisoners approach in heat 8 created room on the inside for Newman to exploit, whilst the Aces duo of Worrall and Fricke were having to be cautious as to the route the Pole was forcing them on to, and the Pirates levelled the meeting.

Grajczonek and Newman, split by Cook edged Poole ahead for the first time, but it was only a borrowed lead as Zagar and Fricke hit back stronger with a heat 10 5-1. With Holder looking ever sharper in heat 11 and Josh Grajczonek holding off Nicholls just long enough the Pirates were able to level again, the scores set at 33 a-piece with four heats remaining. Machine problems thwarted reserve Stefan Nielsen in heat 12, first failing to meet the time limit due to problems and then barely driving the 15 metres handicap he faced before the bike packed up again. But his team-mate Steve Worrall was playing his part by hanging on from Newman and Starke to maintain the deadlock.

Holder and Lawson then claimed a 4-2 over Nicholls as Zagar was plagued by problems, even switching to a loaned machine from Max Fricke he still had gremlins that saw him pull up at the first turn. Then in heat 14 a singularly focussed ride by North saw him overpower stand-in reserve Steve Worrall who was replacing his brother after he had driven through the tapes.  The pass was a telling one as it earned a shared heat with Cook winning in style for the visitors. Poole only needed a similar score in the finale and Holder was really digging in trying to fend off Zagar but the Slovenian managed to find a turn of speed that took him sailing into the sunset. It was then a question of Holder having to prevent Cook from repeating the move to ensure the Pirates weren't to finish pointless for a second consecutive appearance on their home soil.

POOLE 45
C. Holder 0,1,3,3,2=9
J. Grajczonek 2,2,3,1=8
D. North 1,3,1,1'=6+1
K. Gomolski 3,0,3,2,0=8
R. Lawson 0,3,0,1=4
P. Starke 0,0,1'=1+1
K. Newman 3,1,2',1,2=9+1
Belle Vue 45
M. Zagar 3,2,3,R,3=11
M. Fricke 1,3,0,2'=6+1
R. Worrall 2',0,0=2+1
C. Cook 2,2,2,3,1=10
S. Nicholls 3,1',2,2=8+1
S. Worrall 2,1,1,3,0=7
S. Nielsen 1',0,0,R=1+1

Ht 1 M. Zagar J. Grajczonek M. Fricke C. Holder 2-4 (2-4) (60.63)
Ht 2 K. Newman S. Worrall S. Nielsen P. Starke 3-3 (5-7) (61.5)
Ht 3 S. Nicholls R. Worrall D. North R. Lawson 1-5 (6-12) (60.54)
Ht 4 K. Gomolski C. Cook K. Newman S. Nielsen 4-2 (10-14) (61.69)
Ht 5 M. Fricke J. Grajczonek S. Worrall P. Starke 2-4 (12-18) (61.56)
Ht 6 D. North M. Zagar S. Nicholls K. Gomolski 3-3 (15-21) (60.56)
Ht 7 R. Lawson C. Cook C. Holder R. Worrall 4-2 (19-23) (61.22)
Ht 8 K. Gomolski K. Newman S. Worrall M. Fricke 5-1 (24-24) (62.35)
Ht 9 J. Grajczonek C. Cook K. Newman S. Nielsen 4-2 (28-26) (61.59)
Ht 10 M. Zagar M. Fricke D. North R. Lawson 1-5 (29-31) (61.16)
Ht 11 C. Holder S. Nicholls J. Grajczonek R. Worrall 4-2 (33-33) (60.97)
Ht 12 S. Worrall K. Newman P. Starke S. Nielsen (Rtd) 3-3 (36-36) (62.47)
Ht 13 C. Holder S. Nicholls R. Lawson M. Zagar (Rtd) 4-2 (40-38) (61.25)
Ht 14 C. Cook K. Gomolski D. North S. Worrall 3-3 (43-41) (60.94)
Ht 15 M. Zagar C. Holder C. Cook K. Gomolski 2-4 (45-45) (61.41)

Referee Dave Robinson
Gates:  Belle Vue won the toss and opted for heat 15 choice (1&3). Poole take 1&3 in heat 1.