RESULT: POOLE v SOMERSET

13/08/18

A few short weeks ago the 'Volvo Cars' Poole Pirates were languishing at the bottom of the SGB Premiership table and had skipper Josh Grajczonek struggling to score, but the Aussie went unbeaten in his programmed rides on Monday night to help steer the Pirates into top place in that table.

Grajczonek was only denied a maximum when he took the heat 15 outing in which the Pirates needed to avoid a 1-5 to ensure a win on the night. His previous four rides had been stormers, not least his move through from the back in heat 10 to arrest the Rebels from inflicting a heat deficit on the Pirates.

Earlier the skipper had stormed clear of his 'oppo' Jason Doyle in heat 1 and then combined perfectly with Brady Kurtz in the sixth heat which put Poole ahead for the first time on the night. The Pirates had to wait a couple of heats before they were able to extend their lead, Worrall and Klindt claiming a 4-2 from heat 9. Klindt had previously been lucky to escape injury in heat 5 when embroiled in a last lap battle with Aaron Summers that saw the Rebel ride into him and lose control. Whilst Klindt stayed aboard he had evidently been caught in the incident.

That heat 9 result saw Somerset slip to a six point deficit but team manager Garry May bided his time before deploying the tactical option, calling upon Jack Holder to team up with Doyle in heat 11. It was a shrewd move and netted the visitors a 5-1 to close the gap to just two points. Woryna and Worrall doubled that lead with a 4-2 over a hard pressing Covatti in a thrilling heat 12 but the Rebels response was a 4-2 of their own courtesy of the Doyle/Holder partnership. Chris Harris playing a leading role in keeping his two opponents apart.

A vital win from Klindt in heat 14 put the Pirates in the driving seat and a perfectly timed gate from Chris Harris in the final heat was enough to give Poole the match victory, but a determined Doyle managed to fight out a good battle with Grajczonek to ensure his side left with a consolation point.

Poole moved two points clear at the top but with Somerset racing on Wednesday positions could change before the two sides go head-to-head again on Monday at the Oak Tree Arena.

POOLE 47
B.Kurtz FD,2',0,0=2+1
J.Grajczonek 3,3,3,3,0=12
R.Worrall 0,2,3,1=6
N.Klindt 3,1',1,3=8+1
C.Harris 2',3,1,2,3=11+1
F.Jakobsen 0,0,0
K.Woryna 1,3,0,3,1=8

SOMERSET 43
J.Doyle 2,3,3,3,1'=12+1
A.Summers 1',FD,1'=2+2
N.Covatti 1',1',1',2=5+3
R.Lawson 2,2,2,2=8
J.Holder 1,1,2,2',1,2=9+1
J.Allen 2',0,0=2+1
B.Wilson-Dean 3,0,2,0,F=5

Ht 1: J.Grajczonek, J.Doyle, A.Summers, B.Kurtz (Fell d/q) 3-3 3-3 [60.75]
Ht 2: B.Wilson-Dean, J.Allen, K.Woryna, F.Jakobsen 1-5 4-8 [61.97]
Ht 3: N.Klindt, R.Lawson, N.Covatti, R.Worrall 3-3 7-11 [60.44]
Ht 4: K.Woryna, C.Harris, J.Holder, B.Wilson-Dean 5-1 12-12 [60.87]
Ht 5: J.Doyle, R.Worrall, N.Klindt, A.Summers (Fell d/q) 3-3 15-15 [awd]
Ht 6: J.Grajczonek, B.Kurtz, J.Holder, J.Allen 5-1 20-16 [60.65]
Ht 7: C.Harris, R.Lawson, N.Covatti, F.Jakobsen 3-3 23-19 [61.16]
Ht 8: J.Grajczonek, B.Wilson-Dean, A.Summers, K.Woryna 3-3 26-22 [61.97]
Ht 9: R.Worrall, J.Holder, N.Klindt, J.Allen 4-2 30-24 [61.34]
Ht 10: J.Grajczonek, R.Lawson, N.Covatti, B.Kurtz 3-3 33-27 [61.63]
Ht 11: J.Doyle, J.Holder (TS), C.Harris, F.Jakobsen 1-5 34-32 [61.4]
Ht 12: K.Woryna, N.Covatti, R.Worrall, B.Wilson-Dean 4-2 38-34 [61.69]
Ht 13: J.Doyle, C.Harris, J.Holder, B.Kurtz 2-4 40-38 [61.19]
Ht 14: N.Klindt, R.Lawson, K.Woryna (RS), B.Wilson-Dean (Fell) 4-2 44-40 [60.66]
Ht 15: C.Harris, J.Holder, J.Doyle, J.Grajczonek 3-3 47-43 [0]0
Gates: POOLE won toss and chose gates 1&3 8 took gates 2&4 in heat 15
Referee Christina Turnbull
League Points POOLE 3 SOMERSET 1