PIRATES KEEN TO MAKE IT A PAIR AGAINST THE KINGS

Unbeaten in their last six meetings, the Pirates will break new ground when they race as a club at the Central Park Stadium, Sittingbourne on Tuesday night. 

Saturday's win brought some brightness to a weekend that saw the Pirates lose the services of promising reserve Ben Cook after he sustained a leg injury whilst guesting for the Redcar Bears on Friday, and Poole fans will be hoping that once again the management will be able to conjur up a reliable guest, just as James Wright proved on Saturday night. 

Poole dealt Kent a comprehensive defeat when the two clubs met at Wimborne Road on the final day of last month and the Royals will undoubtedly be determined to go some way to making amends as they try to settle in to the groove at the highest level of racing the club has witnessed since their 2013 launch. 

They have twice suffered league defeats at home this season, losing to both Glasgow and Redcar, but denied Plymouth any consolation when the Devonshire club visited last month whilst last week they beat Eastbourne by nine points in the Knockout cup, although lost the tie on aggregate. 

Both Steve Worrall and skipper Danny King have already performed at the venue this season, featuring, as opponents, featured, in the Plymouth  fixture. Worrall racked up paid 16 for the hosts whilst King was a three-time winner on his way to a dozen points from five rides.  

Stalwart Worrall was deputising for the King's Cameron Heeps that night, and the Australian who has had a tough time with an injured shoulder this season remains a doubt. The Kings are spearheaded by two former Pirates, Scott Nicholls and Paul Starke, who would earn respect by virtue of their long experience, but their current form also makes them a threat.  

The Pirates decent run of form has pleased team manager Neil Middleditch who is looking to rekindle some old memories on Tuesday. 

"I have many fond memories of going to the county of Kent when I was racing. Riding for Eastbourne meant our trips to Canterbury were fuelled by the local derby fever and I often reflect on those days, and of course I will always remember winning my U21 title at Canterbury all those years ago." 

That individual glory came for Middlo in 1975 and although he missed Saturday night's win he was following developments closely and admitted he was 'delighted with the outcome" adding "I have been really pleased with the way everyone has been chipping in this season and that is a sign of a good side. Of course we have the strong heat leader trio but I have particularly been impressed by our Rising Star Danyon [Hume]. He has such  a positive attitude and he is always laughing and smiling and just enjoying his racing. That is so infectious and helps create a great team spirit. 

Poole have booked Hume's former Leicester team-mate Jack Thomas, a member of the Cubs title-winning team in 2019, to deputise in the number two berth as the Pirates management still wrestles with the travel complications that have prevented Ondrej Smetana from making his British debut. Thomas was formerly a Kent rider for two seasons. James Wright will continue a guest cover for Ben Cook, who remains sidelined after receiving a very deep gash to his leg following a crash at Redcar on Friday. Speaking of the injury, Cook's landlord Middleditch said "It’s a very nasty wound he has got but thankfully the medical team determined that there was no need for a skin graft. The big mystery however is what actually caused the leg to open up like it did. The lad is in a fair bit of discomfort right now and all he can do is rest up, until he gets to see the specialist next week." 

Kent Kings: 1 Scott Nicholls (Capt); 2 Rider Replacement for Tom Bacon; 3 Paul Starke; 4 Paul Hurry; 5 TBC 6 Ben Morley; 7 Dan Gilkes – Team manager: Chris Hunt  
Poole Pirates: 1 Rory Schlein; 2 Jack Thomas (Guest); 3 Steve Worrall; 4 Stefan Nielsen; 5 Danny King (Capt); 6  James Wright (Guest); 7 Danyon Hume – Team manager: Neil Middleditch