RESULT: POOLE 56 EASTBOURNE 35

Job-hunting for 2015? If they were the Dave Watt, Lewis Bridger and Edward Kennett could hardly have done any better as they helped steer Poole to the top of the Elite League table, at least for 24 hours.

Watt dropped just one point to an opponent all night and, as he said himself "even that was an old guy" referring to Bjarne Pedersen's spell as a popular Pirate, for it was Pedersen who led him home in heat 11.

But by then the Eagles 'select' were running out of options against a Pirates 'select' even though the home side, having started with just three regular riders due to suspension, injury and other racing commitments, were down to just two of those regulars.

Chirpy Czech rider Vaclav Milik crashed out heavily with a hand injury when his attempt to try and switch inside Lasse Bjerre went horribly wrong and he was propelled into the first turn air fence with his bike following through and landing on him.

He had become the second faller on a night that produced some of the very best of racing witnessed at Wimborne Road this term, Eastbourne's captain for the night Bjarne Pedersen having been spread-eagled in heat 1 when ruthless Lewis Bridger ran across his path in a bold attempt to support Edward Kennett's first place. It resulted in the race being awarded with the disqualification of Bridger and the irony of the Poole fans jeeriing at the referee for having the audacity to blame a rider who all too often has been passionately booed for some of his moves.

But Bridger is rapidly warming himself to the Poole faithful not least when he and Janowski paired up for the first 5-1 of the night in heat 5. although the piece-de-resistance was reserved for heat 13 when that same pairing shot either side of an unsuspecting Pedersen as they headed down the back straight. The dual move was one of the finest pieces of speedway, usually displayed by the likes of Ward or Holder, but neither of those two could have executed it any better.

As in previous weeks Poole really came alive over the second phase of the meeting, a period in which the on-song Kyle Newman really shone with three straight race wins, all three being converted into valuable heat advantages as the Pirates ruled the roost and moved to the top of the league, level with King's Lynn but having ridden one match more.

POOLE 56
L. Bridger Dq,3,0,2',1=6+1
E. Kennett 3,2,2',2,1=10+1
V. Milik 1,FD=1
D. Watt 3,3,3,2,2'=13+1
M. Janowski 3,2',1',3,3=12+2
B. Hopwood R,1,1=2
K. Newman 2,1',3,3,3=12+1

EASTBOURNE 35
B. Pedersen 1',2,0,3,1,2=9+1
T. Lahti 2,2,1,2,2,0=9
R. Replacement =0
J. Kylmakorpi 2,1,3,0,1=7
L. Bjerre 0,0,1',3,0=4+1
L. Kerr 3,0,2,0,0=5
B. Johnson 1,0,0=1

Ht 1 E. Kennett T. Lahti B. Pedersen L. Bridger(D/Q) 3-3 (3-3) (awd)
Ht 2 L. Kerr K. Newman B. Johnson B. Hopwood (Rtd) 2-4 (5-7) (61.72)
Ht 3 M. Janowski J. Kylmakorpi V. Milik L. Bjerre 4-2 (9-9) (60.84)
Ht 4 D. Watt T. Lahti B. Hopwood B. Johnson 4-2 (13-11) (61.15)
Ht 5 L. Bridger M. Janowski J. Kylmakorpi L. Bjerre 5-1 (18-12) (60.84)
Ht 6 D. Watt B. Pedersen L. Bjerre V. Milik (Fell d/q) 3-3 (21-15) (60.94)
Ht 7 J. Kylmakorpi E. Kennett K. Newman L. Kerr 3-3 (24-18) (60.91)
Ht 8 D. Watt E. Kennett T. Lahti B. Pedersen 5-1 (29-19) (61.78)
Ht 9 K. Newman L. Kerr B. Hopwood B. Johnson 4-2 (33-21) (61.91)
Ht 10 L. Bjerre E. Kennett T. Lahti (TR) L. Bridger 2-5 (35-26) (62.03)
Ht 11 B. Pedersen D. Watt M. Janowski J. Kylmakorpi 3-3 (38-29) (61)
Ht 12 K. Newman T. Lahti E. Kennett L. Kerr 4-2 (42-31) (61.68)
Ht 13 M. Janowski L. Bridger B. Pedersen L. Bjerre 5-1 (47-32) (60.68)
Ht 14 K. Newman D. Watt J. Kylmakorpi L. Kerr 5-1 (52-33) (62.1)
Ht 15 M. Janowski B. Pedersen L. Bridger T. Lahti 4-2 (56-35) (61.31)

Referee Dave Robinson
Gates: Poole won the toss and take 1&3 in heat 1. Eastbourne chose 2&4 in heat 15