RESULT: POOLE V WOLVERHAMPTON

The 'ReadyPower' Pirates produced one of their best all-round team performances of the season to overcome a high-flying Wolverhampton side at Wimborne Road and move into third place in the Elite league table.

With solid scores running throughout the Poole side and Wolverhampton determined to try and match the Pirates the biggest winner on the night was the sport itself. With terrific racing featuring in many of the heats it has to be admitted that the 52-38 final score slightly flattered the Dorset side.

Poole particularly turned on the style in the final third of the meeting after the visitors had made a good effort in chipping away at the Pirates' early lead.

Chris Holder set the ball rolling for the home side with a solid victory over Swedish pairing Lindgren and Karlsson but the Poole number one had no answers to his fellow Australian, Sam Masters when they met in heat 7, with Masters picking up a second win from as many starts. Holder admitted afterwards "I got the look from Darcy after that race and I just knew what he was thinking so I had to turn things around again after that." Holder did exactly that, unbeaten in his remaining three rides as he exploited the widest of lines to find the extra speed.

Reserve Adam Ellis had, as early as heat 2, demonstrated that there was an advantage to be had by sticking out wide and Ellis, a beneficiary of a R.E.F hand-out prior to the meeting, somehow found enough room to squeeze past the shoulder of Kyle Howarth to set Poole on their way.

Edge of the seat racing from veteran Peter Karlsson attempting to split up Pirates Newman and Wright in heat 5 was something to behold but it was guest Charles Wright who made the absolute telling pass off the final turn to secure the 5-1, one of only two such scores all evening.

With the Pirates 8 points to the good after 7 heats the visitors slowly began to work their way back into the meeting and by the break, which came after heat 10, the deficit they faced was just four points.

But a brilliant ride by Kyle Newman in heat 11, almost clinching him a second place behind Holder, only for the hitherto pointless Rory Schlein to foil the move allowed Poole to move 6 points ahead and there was no looking back as they gained heat advantages in three of the final four heats.

If the fans hadn't been treated to enough emotion with the on-track performances then there was more to follow for those that stayed behind to pay homage to Darcy Ward and his partner Lizzie.

In a highly emotional session, hundreds of speedway fans heard more about the new way of life for their forever hero Ward, who despite all that he has been through remains positive, cheery and most of all insistent that he considers himself fortunate as he has such great friends and supporters all round the world. It was revealed that the Darcy Ward Foundation is not just about Darcy but about being able to help others who find themselves facing life-changing injuries. Darcy admitted "if I can use my name to help support other less fortunate persons then there will be something positive to come out of all this. I think I became more popular after my accident than I was before but I want to be able to use that for the greater good. Life is tough and it is a struggle for me at times but I know I have the support of so many people throughout the world and that does keep me going."
More details of the Darcy Ward Foundation plans will be announced shortly.

POOLE 52

C. Holder 3,1',3,3,3=13+1
K. Newman 0,3,2,1=6
K. Buczkowski 2,2,0,3,1=8
B. Kurtz 3,1',0,0=4+1
H. Andersen 1',2,2,2'=7+2
C. Wright 1,2',1',1=5+2
A. Ellis 3,1,2,3=9
Wolverhampton 38
F. Lindgren 2,3,3,1,2=11
P. Karlsson 1',1,1,1=4+1
S. Masters 3,3,0,2,0=8
J. Thorssell 2,0,3,1'=6+1
R. Schlein 0,0,2,0=2
M. Clegg 0,0,0=0
K. Howarth 2,0,3,0,2=7

Ht 1 C. Holder F. Lindgren P. Karlsson K. Newman 3-3 (3-3) (61.19)
Ht 2 A. Ellis K. Howarth C. Wright M. Clegg 4-2 (7-5) (61.4)
Ht 3 S. Masters K. Buczkowski H. Andersen R. Schlein 3-3 (10-8) (61.07)
Ht 4 B. Kurtz J. Thorssell A. Ellis K. Howarth 4-2 (14-10) (61.78)
Ht 5 K. Newman C. Wright P. Karlsson M. Clegg 5-1 (19-11) (62.31)
Ht 6 F. Lindgren K. Buczkowski B. Kurtz R. Schlein 3-3 (22-14) (61.25)
Ht 7 S. Masters H. Andersen C. Holder J. Thorssell 3-3 (25-17) (61.84)
Ht 8 K. Howarth A. Ellis P. Karlsson B. Kurtz 2-4 (27-21) (61.59)
Ht 9 J. Thorssell K. Newman C. Wright K. Howarth 3-3 (30-24) (61.65)
Ht 10 F. Lindgren H. Andersen P. Karlsson K. Buczkowski 2-4 (32-28) (61.75)
Ht 11 C. Holder R. Schlein K. Newman S. Masters 4-2 (36-30) (61.38)
Ht 12 A. Ellis K. Howarth C. Wright M. Clegg 4-2 (40-32) (61.84)
Ht 13 C. Holder H. Andersen F. Lindgren R. Schlein 5-1 (45-33) (61.72)
Ht 14 K. Buczkowski S. Masters J. Thorssell B. Kurtz 3-3 (48-36) (61.9)
Ht 15 C. Holder F. Lindgren K. Buczkowski S. Masters 4-2 (52-38) (62.19)

Referee Anthony Steele
Gates: Poole win toss and take 1&3. Wol erhampton 1&3 in heat 15
POOLE 3 league points Wolverhampton 0 league points

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