RESULT: VOLVO CARS POOLE PIRATES v BELLE VUE ACES - KO CUP LEG 1

A massive stroke of fortune gave the Volvo Cars Poole Pirates the slenderest of first leg leads in their SGB Premiership KO Cup Quarter Final tie against Belle Vue Aces.

With the Aces having recovered from a heat two deficit to lead themselves after 8 heats, the writing looked very much on the wall as the Poole big hitters, Krzysztof Kasprzak and Hans Andersen conceded a 4-2 in heat 13, after some excellent early work by the pairing to block out Craig Cook. But as the heat unfolded Andersen lifted sufficiently enough to lose momentum and allow an opening for Cook to exploit which allowed the visitors to extend their advantage to four points with just two heats remaining.

Brady Kurtz did very well to recover from a sluggish start, attack the outside and join fast-trapping Klindt to offer the Pirates some hope of having a points margin to defend on Friday as the meeting levelled.

Kurtz was called on again in heat 15, along with Kasprzak who had been missing a race win all evening. It wasn't to be the turn around that the Pole had hoped for, whilst Kurtz tried hard to keep Kenneth Bjerre in his sights whilst holding off the interests of Craig Cook. With the heat beginning though to go against the Pirates they were suddenly handed a massive gift as Bjerre suffered an engine failure whilst leading and the heat result was turned on it's head with the Pirates fortuitously running out 4-2 winners in the end and 46-44 first leg winners.

Poole 46
K. Kasprzak 2,2,1',2,1=8+1
J. Holder 1',FD,1=2+1
L. Kerr 0,0,1'=1+1
B. Kurtz 2,3,2,3,3=13
H. Andersen  3,2,3,0=8
N. Klindt 3,1',2,F,3,2'=11+2
J. Shanes 2',1,0,0=3+1
Belle Vue 44
M. Fricke 0,2,2,3=7
S. Worrall 3,1',3,1'=8+2
K. Bjerre 3,3,0,2,R=8
J. Sedgmen 1,0,3,1=5
C. Cook 2,3,3,1,2=11
D. Bewley 1,1,2',0,1'=5+2
J. Smith 0,0,0=0

Ht 1 S. Worrall K. Kasprzak J. Holder M. Fricke 3-3 (3-3) (60.62)
Ht 2 N. Klindt J. Shanes D. Bewley J. Smith 5-1 (8-4) (60.72)
Ht 3 K. Bjerre B. Kurtz J. Sedgmen L. Kerr 2-4 (10-8) (60.07)
Ht 4 H. Andersen  C. Cook J. Shanes J. Smith 4-2 (14-10) (60.28)
Ht 5 B. Kurtz M Fricker S. Worrall L. Kerr 3-3 (17-13) (60.47)
Ht 6 C. Cook K. Kasprzak D. Bewley J. Holder (Fell d/q) 2-4 (19-17) (awd)
Ht 7 K. Bjerre H. Andersen  N. Klindt J. Sedgmen 3-3 (22-20) (60.16)
Ht 8 S. Worrall D. Bewley J. Holder J. Shanes 1-5 (23-25) (61.47)
Ht 9 C. Cook B. Kurtz L. Kerr D. Bewley 3-3 (26-28) (60.22)
Ht 10 J. Sedgmen N. Klindt K. Kasprzak K. Bjerre 3-3 (29-31) (61.31)
Ht 11 H. Andersen  M. Fricke S. Worrall N. Klindt (Fell) 3-3 (32-34) (60.69)
Ht 12 N. Klindt K. Bjerre D. Bewley J. Shanes 3-3 (35-37) (61.15)
Ht 13 M. Fricke K. Kasprzak C. Cook H. Andersen  2-4 (37-41) (61.09)
Ht 14 B. Kurtz N. Klindt J. Sedgmen J. Smith 5-1 (42-42) (61.87)
Ht 15 B. Kurtz C. Cook K. Kasprzak K. Bjerre (Rtd) 4-2 (46-44) (60.78)

Referee Christina Turnbull
Gates: Poole win toss and take gates 1&3. Belle Vue take 1&3 in heat 15

Rider of the Night: Brady Kurtz