RESULT: POOLE V LEICESTER

The Volvo Cars Poole Pirates deposited another three points in their SGB Premiership league account with a convincing 52-40 victory over bottom side Leicester, prompting club skipper Hans Andersen to praise his team-mates.

Andersen, who went through the card unbeaten admitted "It was nice knowing you don't have to go out in heat 15 and get a 5-1 for a change. Especially tonigh as I have a couple of rib injuries so was pleased to be able to sit it out knowing that the job had been done. I have to give a big thanks to Carl (Wilkinson) for stepping in to replace Nicolai (Klindt) and bagging some good points. I thought also Shanesy (James Shanes)  deserved more points than he got as he was really get stuck in and  Starkey proved to be a revelation,  so it was good effort all round and we just need to keep the momentum going and get in those play-offs."

Poole were never realistically troubled throughout this affair despite the Lions having Erik Riss, Danny King, Kim Nilsson and Josh Bates all hungry for points. Once the Pirates edged ahead courtesy of an excellent returning ride by Paul Starke, who sensationally went from last to first in heat 3 they never allowed the Lions any real chance of getting back into contention.

Andersen and Shanes doubled the Pirates lead in heat 4 before Kurtz and Starke, again to the delight of the Poole faithful, combined for a 5-1 to give Poole a useful cushion. A stint of shared heats followed, Jack Holder having to dig deep in heat 8 to pass Riss and make it a hat-trick of drawn heats.

Starke almost stunned dethroned British champion Danny King in heat 9 but had to settle for third place as Brady Kurtz claimed a runaway victory and Poole inched into a double figure advantage.  A messy entry into turn 1 by Lasse Bjerre allowed Zengota and Holder to get clear for the second 5-1 of the meeting and more importantly give themselves more breathing space ahead of the expected tactical ride for Kim Nilsson.

But Andersen was in win-centric form and stormed to victory, his pressure coming more from Riss than Nilsson although the German did give-way in the run-in to alllow the Lions to claw back two points.  Starke's third unbeaten ride in four prevented any further reduction of the Pirates' advantage and Andersen superbly completed his four ride maximum in heat 13 to ensure victory on the night for the home side.

Guest Carl Wilkinson was rewarded with a ride brimming with determination as he forced a late error from Bjerre allowing him to partner Kurtz to a Pirates 5-1

but that was negated in heat 15 when Riss and King first ensured Kurtz had no room coming out of the pit turn and then proved they had been watching the passing lines as they both went for the wide outside to relegate leader Holder to third, but it was nothing more than aconsolation genuine heat advantage.

video courtesy of  RE-RUN PRODUCTIONS (licensed by GSI/BSPA agreement)

Poole 52
G. Zengota 0,2,3,0=5
J. Holder 3,1',3,2',1=10+2
P. Starke 3,2',1,3=9+1
B. Kurtz 1,3,3,3,0=10
H. Andersen 3,3,3,3=12
C. Wilkinson 1',0,0,2'=3+2
J. Shanes 2,1,0,0=3

Leicester 40
K. Nilsson 1',1,4,1'=7+2
E. Riss 2,2,0,1',1',3=9+2
R. Replacement =0
L. Bjerre 0,1',0,1',0=2+2
D. King 2,3,2,2,2,2'=13+1
J. Bates 3,2,1,2,1=9
D. Ayres 0,FD,FD,0=0

Ht 1 J. Holder E. Riss K. Nilsson G. Zengota 3-3 (3-3) (60.69)
Ht 2 J. Bates J. Shanes C. Wilkinson D. Ayres 3-3 (6-6) (61.79)
Ht 3 P. Starke E. Riss B. Kurtz L. Bjerre 4-2 (10-8) (61)
Ht 4 H. Andersen D. King J. Shanes D. Ayres (Fell d/q) 4-2 (14-10) ()
Ht 5 B. Kurtz P. Starke K. Nilsson E. Riss 5-1 (19-11) (60.78)
Ht 6 D. King G. Zengota J. Holder D. Ayres (Fell d/q) 3-3 (22-14) (60.59)
Ht 7 H. Andersen D. King L. Bjerre C. Wilkinson 3-3 (25-17) (61.19)
Ht 8 J. Holder J. Bates E. Riss J. Shanes 3-3 (28-20) (61.22)
Ht 9 B. Kurtz D. King P. Starke D. Ayres 4-2 (32-22) (60.4)
Ht 10 G. Zengota J. Holder J. Bates L. Bjerre 5-1 (37-23) (61.19)
Ht 11 H. Andersen K. Nilsson (TR) E. Riss C. Wilkinson 3-5 (40-28) (60.97)
Ht 12 P. Starke J. Bates L. Bjerre J. Shanes 3-3 (43-31) (61.62)
Ht 13 H. Andersen D. King K. Nilsson G. Zengota 3-3 (46-34) (61.6)
Ht 14 B. Kurtz C. Wilkinson J. Bates L. Bjerre 5-1 (51-35) (61.78)
Ht 15 E. Riss D. King J. Holder B. Kurtz 1-5 (52-40) (61.69)

Referee W.Dishington
Gates: Poole won toss and deferred choice of gates and Leicester chose 2&4 in heat 1. Poole took gates 2&4 in heat 15
Poole 3 league points Leicester 0 league points