REACTION: PIRATES BREAK DOWN STUBBORN BIRMINGHAM

Poole turned in a second half performance at Birmingham that  converted a two-point lead into a 20 point winning margin as they banked another four league points as they established the biggest winning margin by an away side in the Championship so far this season.

The victory, a solid all-round team performance, pushes the Pirates level on points with Leicester, only race points separating the two sides at the top of the league table.
Poole recorded just two last places all evening as they took advantage of the 'Brummies' who were carrying far too many passengers but Poole promoter Dan Ford was quick to praise the home side as much as his own crew.

"Just like they did in our home match, Birmingham made things tough for us early on as they stuck to us and didn't allow us to build up a lead. I don't think the final score truly reflected the tightness of the meeting. But I was pleased to see our lads dig deep and kick on as the meeting progressed, as I had hoped. It was a solid team effort and it was good to see both Ben (Cook) and Nathan (Ablitt) return a couple of decent performances especially after they had tough ones at Glasgow as it will serve as confidence boosters for them. We have put ourselves in a good position now as we head into more home meetings than away ones over the forthcoming weeks."

Steve Worrall produced some superb passing moves throughout the night to finish with a single dropped point to an opponent from his four rides, whilst his fellow heat leaders, Danny King (12 from 5) and Richard Lawson (11+2 from 5) also secured double figure returns. 

Former Pirate,  Stefan Nielsen began sprightly for the home side, but a snapped chain in heat eight as he was rounding Drew Kemp, caused him to fall and gain a disqualification. 
Despite Poole's dominance in the latter half of the meeting,  the ride of the night was produced by Birmingham's guest Tom Brennan in heat thirteen. 

The GB International somehow managed to keep a cool head as he lifted mid move when trying to squeeze by King and Lawson down the backstraight. But a heat later Poole were guaranteed all four league points as Ben Cook took the win and Nathan Ablitt added the icing on the cake as he picked off James Pearson in heat 14 for third place.

Scorers:
BIRMINGHAM  35 - Tom Brennan 10+1 (2,3,1',3,1) ,Justin Sedgmen 9 (2,3,0,2,2,0) ,Stefan Nielsen 7 (3,3,XD,1) ,Joe Thompson 5+1 (3,1',RS,1,TS,0,RS) ,Ashley Morris 4 (R,F,2,2) ,James Pearson 0 (0,0,RS,0,RS,RS,0) ,Claus Vissing 0 (XE,R,0,0) 

POOLE 55 - Danny King 12 (2,2,3,2,3) ,Richard Lawson 11+2 (3,2,3,1',2') ,Steve Worrall 10+1 (3,1',3,3) ,Ben Cook 8+1 (1,2,2',3) ,Drew Kemp 7+2 (2,1',2',1,1) ,Zach Cook 5+2 (1',1',3,0) ,Nathan Ablitt  2+1 (1',0,RS,1)

Full heat details here