REACTION TO PIRATES CUP OPENER

Poole's performance at the Plymouth Coliseum has left them with a foundation to build on as they look to progress in the Knockout cup following their first leg victory in Devon.

The first two thirds of the meeting was dominated by riders in the white helmet, with eight of the first ten race winners being Poole riders, a sequence that included a maiden British race win for Zane Keleher in heat 8.

With partner Danyon Hume tucked in behind it gave Poole their second maximum heat advantage of the night, Steve Worrall and Stefan Noelsenhaving clinced the first one when they took the heat three honours. That Keleher/Hume big hit fired Poole into a 12 point lead. Two heats later Worrall and Nielsen again combined perfectly although a disqualification for Gladiators guest Richard Lawson made their route home far more comfortable than it might have been oherwise.

Whilst the hosts did well to pull points back over the closing stages, with maximum advantages of their own in heats 13 and 15 the mood in the Poole camp was one of satisfacton as they take an 8-point lead into the second leg on July 21st.

Keleher's reaction to getting the 'monkey off his back' was one of immense relief and pride as he claims "I’m sure every one there in attendance could see what a relief it was to me as I crossed the finish line!! What a moment. First UK heat win! Such a relief, it’s hard to describe the feeling of the weight being lifted off my shoulders to finally get an all important win. The first one is out of the way now, I’ve proven to myself, the team and everyone around that I can do it so now I’ll just look to keep the ball rolling and improve further and further with every race."
 

Final Score:  Plymouth 41 v Poole 49
PLYMOUTH - 41: B.Pedersen 12+1 (2,2,3,2',3), R.Lawson 10+1 (2,3,FD,3,2'), Z.Cook 7+1 (1,2,1',3), A.Bowtell 5 (3,FD,1,1,0,0), D.Ruml 5+1 (0,1',2,2), L.Ruddick 1+1 (0,1',0), S.Goret 1 (0,0,1)
POOLE - 49: S.Worrall 12 (3,3,3,2,1), R.Schlein 9 (3,3,2,1,0), S.Nielsen 8+2 (2',1,2',3), D.King 7+1 (3,1',3,0), B.Cook 5+1 (2,2,0,1'), D.Hume 4+2 (1',0,2',1), Z.Keleher 4 (1,0,3,0)
 

For heat details click here.