PIRATES PREPARE FOR PROWLING LIONS

Poole promoter Dan Ford is hoping for a large turnout of local support on Wednesday night (28th July) to applaud the weekend exploits of the Poole Pirates, after their stunning victory at the home of defending champions Leicester.

Gaining their first away win and twelfth league point of the season - a tally that could be greater by Wednesday with the Pirates racing at Kent tomorrow (Tuesday) - the gravitas of their win at Leicester should not be understated, as Ford explains. "Whilst there is still a very long way to go before the league title is decided it is victories at places like Leicester that can prove to be critical. They are a very strong side and with such a proud home record behind them. So that defeat will have hurt them. That in itself spells danger. They will be even keener to come to us now and get a result so Wednesday has all the ingredients for a great speedway meeting. Hopefully our fans will come out in numbers and get behind us.

"I would like to go on record and thank Stewart Dickson (the Leicester team manager) for his very kind words on Saturday. Stewart is one of the sport's best team managers and to hear him admit that we thoroughly deserved our win meant a lot to our team. But, if anyone can rally his troops in a positive manner then Stewart can and we are in no doubt that the Lions will be fired up. That said, our determination will be even greater as we don't want to negate that win by dropping points here and I can't think that there can be anything better than two strong sides battling for every race point across fifteen heats of no brakes, four lap speedway."

Poole make one change to the seven that picked up that 47-43 win in East Midlands with two-times British U19 Champion Drew Kemp in place of Alfie Bowtell, whilst Leicester, led by Wimborne Road favourite Hans Andersen, are obliged to make positional changes following the attainment of an official average for 17-year old Dan Thompson that moves him in to the main body of the side and his reserve berth filled by their latest signing Zaine Kennedy.

Wednesday teams:
Poole: 1  Rory Schlein; 2 Drew Kemp (Guest); 3 Steve Worrall; 4 Stefan Nielsen; 5 Danny King (Captain); 6 James Wright (Guest); 7 Danyon Hume - Team manager Neil Middleditch
Leicester: 1 Hans Andersen; 2 Dan Thompson; 3 Nick Morris; 4 Kyle Howarth (Captain); 5 Ryan Douglas; 6 Zaine Kennedy; 7 Joe Thompson - Team manager Stewart Dickson