PREVIEW: POOLE PIRATES V GLASGOW TIGERS - SECOND VERSUS THIRD

22/08/23

A victory away from retaking top spot in the SGB Cab Direct Championship table, the Poole Wessex Marine Pirates will be embroiled in a tough fixture on Wednesday (23rd August) when they host the Glasgow Tigers.

The two sides that battled out the final of the BSN Series, in which Poole came out, convincingly, on top by an aggregate twenty eight point margin, are presently positioned second and third in the table and play off certainties, but both sides have that pole position in their sights.

Poole's massive BSN winning score was entirely down to the 62-28 thrashing they handed out in the first leg at Wimborne Road. Since that drubbing the Tigers have only lost once in eight matches, seven wins that includes a 46-44 home win over Poole, which puts the bonus point on the line on Wednesday.

A Poole victory, and they have had five straight ones since that narrow defeat in Scotland, by three points or more would secure the bonus point for the defending champions, whilst a win or draw for the visitors would see that aggregate point head north, together with the regular points.

Poole promoter Dan Ford said "it goes without saying but I believe they will arrive here more determined than ever to put up a fight. I think that BSN meeting hurt them greatly and we know they are keen to make amends, but our boys are in good form and more than capable of achieving the goal of getting that top spot."

Poole will be at full strength with Joe Thompson a permanent Pirate at number seven, where he more than did his job on Sunday. The Tigers however will be missing two of their regulars this season, Marcin Nowak having been recalled by his Polish club and Ben Basso engaged in a Danish league fixture. Rider Replacement has been declared as operatingfor the missing Pole, although the Tigers are hopeful that they may be able to reveal a new rider in time, whilst Richie Worrall, a former Pirate will guest in place of the absent former Pirate.

Teams

Poole 1 Richard Lawson 2 Kyle Newman 3 Ben Cook 4 Zach Cook 5 Steve Worrall (Capt) 6 Anders Rowe 7 Joe Thompson - Team manager Neil Middleditch

Glasgow 1 Chris Harris 2 Rider Replacement 3 Tom Brennan (Capt) 4 Claus Vissing 5 Richie Worrall (Guest) 6 Lee Complin 7 Ace Pijper Team manager Cameron Brown