RESULT: POOLE 58 WOLVERHAMPTON 32

VOLVO CARS PIRATE rookie James Shanes enjoyed the perfect home debut by clinching a hard-earned maximum to help Poole retain the Elite Shield.

Overcoming a 10 point deficit from Monday night's first leg, the Pirates tore the 2016 Elite league champions apart with a blistering team display masterminded by the reserve pairing of Nicolai Klindt and Shanes.

On his way to his full house, Shanes rode splendidly, particularly in in heat 4 to hold out Monday's maxi-man Jacob Thorssell, a ride that brought the Grandstand to it’s feet as one to applaud home the recently turned 20 year old.
"I can't begin to describe how I feel right now" admitted a jubilant Shanes, " for me it's a dream come true to ride for Poole and to score a maximum on my first appearance as well just can’t be for real. It is a massive boost for me although it is going to be hard to keep that up. I was trying out a new engine and it worked superbly for me".

Whilst the Pirates were to seal the fate of the Shield as early as heat 12 they had to do it the hard way to some extent as they conceded a 5-1 in the opening heat. But four similar score advantages in their favour immediately followed and the writing was soon on the wall for the visiting Wolves.

By the heat 10 interval Poole had an aggregate lead of 14 points (82-68) and in heat 11 Jack Holder stormed by Sam Masters and worked hard to try and clinch the tie but was unable to find a way by Adam Skornicki who was marking his return from a shoulder injury.

So it was quite fitting that the confirmation of the first piece of silverware for 2017 would be down to the brilliant reserves Klindt and Shanes, both unbeaten at that stage. But Klindt suffered a cable problem which saw him drive through the tapes and dismissed to a 15 metre handicap. His route to join the fast trapping Shanes was continually blocked by Nathan Greaves and Max Clegg and whilst he managed to see of the latter his maximum hopes were dented. Nevertheless Shanes' first outright victory in Poole colours were sufficient to claim the Shield.

Post meeting the club staged the annual PETE ANSELL MEMORIAL SHIELD race which featured latest signing Lewis Kerr (due to make his club debut next Wednesday against Belle Vue Aces in the KO Cup), Jack Holder, Nicolai Klindt. The fourth nominated rider Brady Kurtz who had been out in heat 15 and suffered some mechanical issues withdrew from the heat which was won by Klindt from Kerr (2nd) and Holder (3rd)

Poole 58
K. Kasprzak 0,3,3,1=7
J. Holder 1,2',0,3,1=7+1
B. Kurtz 2',3,1,2,0=8+1
R. Replacement =0
H. Andersen 3,1,3,3,2=12
N. Klindt 3,3,3,3,2',1,0=15+1
J. Shanes 2',2',2',3=9+3
Wolverhampton 32
F. Lindgren 3,1',2,R,3=9+1
K. Howarth 2',1,R,0=3+1
A. Skornicki R,0,2,1=3
J. Thorssell 1,2,1,3,1=8
S. Masters 1,2,0,2=5
M. Clegg 1,0,1,0=2
N. Greaves F,0,0,2=2

Ht 1 F. Lindgren K. Howarth J. Holder K. Kasprzak 1-5 (1-5) (61.41)
Ht 2 N. Klindt J. Shanes M. Clegg N. Greaves (Fell) 5-1 (6-6) (62.32)
Ht 3 H. Andersen B. Kurtz S. Masters A. Skornicki (Rtd) 5-1 (11-7) (62)
Ht 4 N. Klindt J. Shanes J. Thorssell N. Greaves 5-1 (16-8) (61.91)
Ht 5 N. Klindt J. Holder K. Howarth M. Clegg 5-1 (21-9) (62.06)
Ht 6 B. Kurtz S. Masters F. Lindgren J. Holder 3-3 (24-12) (61.41)
Ht 7 K. Kasprzak J. Thorssell H. Andersen A. Skornicki 4-2 (28-14) (62.15)
Ht 8 N. Klindt J. Shanes M. Clegg K. Howarth (Rtd) 5-1 (33-15) (61.85)
Ht 9 J. Holder N. Klindt J. Thorssell N. Greaves 5-1 (38-16) (62.03)
Ht 10 H. Andersen F. Lindgren B. Kurtz K. Howarth 4-2 (42-18) (62.78)
Ht 11 K. Kasprzak A. Skornicki J. Holder S. Masters 4-2 (46-20) (61.37)
Ht 12 J. Shanes N. Greaves N. Klindt M. Clegg 4-2 (50-22) (62.4)
Ht 13 H. Andersen S. Masters K. Kasprzak F. Lindgren (Rtd) 4-2 (54-24) ()
Ht 14 J. Thorssell B. Kurtz A. Skornicki N. Klindt 2-4 (56-28) (61.75)
Ht 15 F. Lindgren H. Andersen J. Thorssell B. Kurtz 2-4 (58-32) (61.6)

Referee Ronnie Allan
Gates: Poole won toss and took 1&3.Wolverhampton took 1&3 in 15

RIDER OF THE NIGHT: JAMES SHANES

PETE ANSELL MEMORIAL SHIELD
1st: N.Klindt
2nd: L.Kerr
3rd: J.Holder