RESULT: PIRATES V ROBINS

The 'Volvo Cars' Poole Pirates strengthened their play-off aspirations whilst putting a dent in the hopes of defending champions Swindon with a solid 54-36 triumph at Wimborne Road.

It was a result that was enough to keep the Pirates in second place in the table despite two big home wins for King's Lynn over Wolverhampton who have drawn level now on 37 points, one adrift from leaders Somerset.

After a disappointing opening ride from Brady Kurtz, the Pirates number one turned his personal fortunes around with four unbeaten rides to complete his night, including a flying pass on Troy Batchelor in heat 13 but that move was soon overshadowed by his partner Chris Harris who had the Poole fans on their feet and applauding an incredibly determined ride to join Kurtz on a 5-1. Harris was well adrift of Batchelor but continued his pursuit of the Robins' number and had him comfortably in his sights on the last lap. Keeping as much power on as he could Harris had all the pace he needed to overhaul and strike a massive blow to the visitors aspirations of taking something from this meeting.

It put 10 points between the two side and triggered a powerhouse Pirates finish as Richie Worrall ended and indifferent night to mimic Harris' move and secure maximum points with Kacper Woryna in heat 14 and then Kurtz and Harris finished off the Robins with a third 5-1 on the bounce, Harris again locking horns with Batchelor, trading places but coming out on top.

The Robins began the night showing with a 4-2 advantage as Bellego stormed out the traps and then Zach Wajtknecht denied Poole hopes of a reserves 5-1 when he got in between Woryna and guest Mark Riss. About to endure a night to forget Tobiasz Musielak landed himself a 15 metre handicap for going through the tapes in heat 3, but to his credit he was not too far off Worrall's rear wheel for a point as rider replacement Josh Grajczonek led home Adam Ellis.

A good pass from Morris signalled the Robins intentions to make Poole work for their points and Woryna did just that when out in heat 5 for the rider replacement, the Pirates using the facility for the absent Nicolai Klindt.

The Pirates may have missed the Danes' presence in the pits but they covered adequately for his rides with a paid 11 contribution from the covering rides.
After Kurtz gained the first of his quartet of winning rides - Grajczonek backing up in third behind Morris, there was drama in heat 7 when, trailing the fast away Harris, Musielak lost control going round the third to fourth turn arc and forced his partner Ellis to lay-down his machine. Both riders hit the air-barrier with some force, Ellis quick though to walk away, Musielak taking a little longer and seemed in some discomfort once he rose to his feet.

Ellis rapidly dusted himself down and proceeded to win the re-run which was void of Musielak. Poole then collected a 4-2 through Grajczonek and Riss in heat 8, the result paving the way for the Robins to bring in Batchelor as a tactical substitute in heat 9. He provided the win that the Swindon faithful were targetting but Woryna stubbornly held firm over Morris thus restricting the visitors to just chipping off two points from the deficit. The Pirates went into the break on the back of a 5-1 from Kurtz and Grajczonek and immediately after the interval Harris came out hungry and won in style from Batchelor and Bellego, on paper a result that could well have gone against Poole.

Swindon gained, what was to prove a consolation, 4-2 in heat 12, Ellis the instigator and Wajtknecht picking off Riss but it was then down to the Pirates to turn on the style and three excellent races brought the meeting to a close and the manner in which they did it certainly brought the feel-good factor back to Wimborne Road

POOLE 54
B.Kurtz 0,3,3,3,3=12
J.Grajczonek 2,3,1,3,2'=11+1
R.Worrall 1,0,0,2,2'=5+1
R.Replacement
C.Harris 2,2,3,2',2'=11+2
K.Woryna 3,3,1',2,0,3=12+1
M.Riss 1,1',1,0=3+1

SWINDON 36
T.Batchelor 1,1',3,2,1,1=9+1
D.Bellego 3,2,2,1',0=8+1
A.Ellis 2,3,1,3=9
T.Musielak
N.Morris 3,2,1,0=6
Z.Wajtknecht 2,0,0,1,1=4
J.Smith 0,0,0

Ht 1:  D.Bellego,  J.Grajczonek,  T.Batchelor,  B.Kurtz 2-4  2-4 |59.91]
Ht 2:  K.Woryna,  Z.Wajtknecht,  M.Riss,  J.Smith 4-2  6-6 [61]
Ht 3:  J.Grajczonek  (RR),  A.Ellis,  R.Worrall,  T.Musielak (hcap) 4-2  10-8 [60.38]
Ht 4:  N.Morris,  C.Harris,  M.Riss,  J.Smith 3-3  13-11 [60.78]
Ht 5:  K.Woryna  (RR),  D.Bellego,  T.Batchelor,  R.Worrall 3-3  16-14 [61.03]
Ht 6:  B.Kurtz,  N.Morris,  J.Grajczonek,  Z.Wajtknecht 4-2  20-16 [60.44]
Ht 7:  A.Ellis,  C.Harris,  K.Woryna,  T.Musielak  (Fell d/q) 3-3  23-19 [61.28]
Ht 8:  J.Grajczonek,  D.Bellego,  M.Riss,  Z.Wajtknecht (RS) 4-2 27-21 [61.53]
Ht 9:  T.Batchelor  (TS),  K.Woryna  (RR),  N.Morris,  R.Worrall 2-4  29-25 [61.09]
Ht 10:  B.Kurtz,  J.Grajczonek,  A.Ellis,  J.Smith 5-1  34-26 [61.1]
Ht 11:  C.Harris,  T.Batchelor,  D.Bellego,  K.Woryna 3-3  37-29 [60.46]
Ht 12:  A.Ellis,  R.Worrall,  Z.Wajtknecht,  M.Riss 2-4  39-33 [61.32]
Ht 13:  B.Kurtz,  C.Harris,  T.Batchelor,  N.Morris 5-1  44-34 [60.75]
Ht 14:  K.Woryna,  R.Worrall  (RR),  Z.Wajtknecht (RS),  T.Musielak 5-1  49-35 [61.81]
Ht 15:  B.Kurtz,  C.Harris,  T.Batchelor,  D.Bellego 5-1  54-36 [61.53]61.53
Gates: SWINDON deferred choice of gates POOLE chose 1&3 | SWINDON took gates 2&4 in heat 15
Referee Paul Carrington
League Points POOLE 3 SWINDON 0
Rider of the Night: Chris Harris

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