RYE HOUSE 56 PIRATES 35

Rye House hit the Pirates hard from the off in this crucial Premiership fixture with the final play-off spot looking to be straight shoot out between these two clubs.

With Poole all too frequently unable to fend off challenges from the Rockets, valuable race points were dropped, Holder being picked off in both heats one and five, the Aussie falling in the latter and earning what would be the first of two disqualifications he was to pick up.
The poor start to the meeting allowed Poole to deploy the tactical option relatively early but despite a sharp gate by Andersen he couldn't stave off Barker but at least clung on under pressure from Harris to prevent any further erosion of the points differential which remained at 10 points, but not for long as Kennett was passed by both Nicholls and Robson in the re-started seventh heat, called back after Starke had taken an awkward fall on second turn.
A win was to follow for Holder, holding out Barker in a true tussle whilst Shanes battled well to get clear of Morley as Poole celebrated not only their first race winner but their opening heat advantage, Lahti and Andersen following it up with a comfortable 5-1 over Wells and Robson, the latter replacing tapes offender Kasprzak.
Harris recovered from his prior third place to make an early move on fast-gating Lahti and birthday boy Kennett followed home his partner to share the heat.
Any faint hopes of extending the Pirates comeback well and truly wiped out when Kurtz fell a matter of a quarter of a lap before Holder crashed out resulting in an awarded 5-0 for the some side. Kenett's workrate in heat 12 was good but Wells stood firm and with the indifferent Lahti trailing Morley the margin between the sides continued to grow. Unbeaten Nicholls was put to the sword in heat 13 a both Andersen and Kurtz fought furiously, all the while Harris was well clear ahead. The three points banked from that heat matched the total yield from the final two heats as Starke managed to split Kasprzak and Robson with Shanes a disqualified faller before Wells and Andersen fired in a concluding 5-1 inspite of Andersen's brave chase.

Rye House 56
C. Harris 3,1,3,3,2'=12+1
B. Barker 2',3,2,0=7+1
R. Wells 3,1,1,3,3=11
K. Kasprzak 1,3,3=7
S. Nicholls 3,3,3,0=9
S. Robson 3,2',0,2',1=8+2
B. Morley 1,0,R,1=2

Poole 35
B. Kurtz 0,2,R,1'=3+1
J. Holder 1,FD,3,FD=4
E. Kennett 2,1,1',2,0=6+1
P. Starke 0,FD,2=2
H. Andersen 2,4,2',2,1=11+1
T. Lahti 2,0,3,2,0=7
J. Shanes 0,1',1,FD=2+1

Ht 1 C. Harris B. Barker J. Holder B. Kurtz 5-1 (5-1) (56.94)
Ht 2 S. Robson T. Lahti B. Morley J. Shanes 4-2 (9-3) (57.65)
Ht 3 R. Wells E. Kennett K. Kasprzak P. Starke 4-2 (13-5) (57.35)
Ht 4 S. Nicholls H. Andersen J. Shanes B. Morley 3-3 (16-8) (57.57)
Ht 5 K. Kasprzak B. Kurtz R. Wells J. Holder (Fell d/q) 4-2 (20-10) (57.07)
Ht 6 B. Barker H. Andersen (TR) C. Harris T. Lahti 4-4 (24-14) (57.75)
Ht 7 S. Nicholls S. Robson E. Kennett P. Starke (Fell d/q) 5-1 (29-15) (57.85)
Ht 8 J. Holder B. Barker J. Shanes B. Morley (Rtd) 2-4 (31-19) (58.03)
Ht 9 T. Lahti H. Andersen R. Wells S. Robson 1-5 (32-24) (57.31)
Ht 10 C.Harris T.Lahti E Kennett B Barker 3-3 (35-27) (57.75)
Ht 11 S. Nicholls S. Robson J. Holder (Fell d/q) B. Kurtz (Rtd) 5-0 (40-27) (Awd)
Ht 12 R. Wells E. Kennett B. Morley T. Lahti 4-2 (44-29) (57.97)
Ht 13 C. Harris H. Andersen B. Kurtz S. Nicholls 3-3 (47-32) (57.34)
Ht 14 K. Kasprzak P. Starke S. Robson J. Shanes (Fell d/q) 4-2 (51-34) (57.9)
Ht 15 R. Wells C. Harris H. Andersen E. Kennett 5-1 (56-35) (58.35)

Referee Mrs Christina Turnbull
Gates: Rye House won toss and chose gates 2&4 in heat 1. Poole took gates 1&3 in heat 15
Rye House 3 league points Poole 0 league points
Rider of the Night Hans Andersen