REACTION: "WE NEVER GAVE UP" ADMITS FRUSTRATED LAWSON

Whilst the Poole "Wessex Marine" Pirates may have lost their 2024 unbeaten league record in a last heat decider at the home of second placed Scunthorpe, they did have the satisfaction of collecting the aggregate bonus point, which guarantees them finishing ahead of the solid Scorpions as the play-offs approach.

Reflecting on the 42-48 defeat, Poole's number one, Testimonial man Richard Lawson claimed "it was a bit frustrating at times, we set off with that heat one not going too well and I think it had to do with the gate choices. We lost the toss and we wanted gates 2&4 and they were really strong early on and we were suffering a bit and then, when we had them gate four kind of went off. So yeah, we got a bad draw with the gates but you know, that is what it is. But I felt like a few of us were riding really well and we never gave up and we were still in with a shout in heat fifteen, but this time it didn't quite go our way. This place does provide some good racing but it is a fine line to decide where you are going to go. Is the dirt there and is it going to work and the home riders are so dialled in and know exactly where to go and so you have a big fight on your hand. But it did for some really good racing. For me it was a bit frustrating tonight. I got one on the line then lost one on the line so bitter sweet. Nevertheless we are in a comfortable position in the league, we did want to win and like I said we never gave up but we got that consolation bonus point."

His opposite number, Michael Palm-Toft bounced back into form after a fruitless performance at Poole on Wednesday to knock in a thirteen point haul, dropping his only points to an opponent when Tom Brennan (paid 12) managed to re-pass him in heat six and deny the Palm-Toft/Simon Lambert combination their second maximum heat score of the night, the pair having inflicted one on Lawson and Hagon in the opener. But with Zach Cook generating seven points and brother Ben paid nine the Pirates top four kept the meeting alive as too did Sam Hagon's three points, especially the third one as he held off Nathan Ablitt in heat eleven to convert Lawson's win over Kyle Howarth into a Poole 4-2 which left just four points between the sides, the scores staying that way going into the final heat, after three shared heats including a superb heat thirteen that had all four riders so close the chequered flag could have covered all four of them and the final finishing positions were always in doubt and not decided until the very last turn when somehow Palm-Toft got clear of Lawson just as Brennan was moving through into a paid second position at the expense of Howarth.

With Poole needing a 5-1 in the final heat to gain a draw, a league point and take the meeting into a super-heat decider, Palm-Toft once again prevailed to keep the Scorpions 100% home record in tact.

SCUNTHORPE 48 (86) - ,Michael Palm-Toft 13 (3,1,3,3,3) ,Jake Allen 9 (3,2,1,2,1) ,Simon Lambert 8+1 (2',3,3,0) ,Kyle Howarth 6+1 (1',3,2,0) ,Luke Harrison 5+2 (0,2,2',1') ,Nathan Ablitt 5 (3,0,0,2) ,Connor Mountain 2+1 (1,0,0,1')

POOLE 42 (94) - Richard Lawson 12 (1,3,3,3,2,0) ,Tom Brennan 10+2 (3,2,2',1',2) ,Ben Cook 7+2 (2,1',1',3) ,Zach Cook 7 (0,2,2,3) ,Sam Hagon 3 (0,1,1,1) ,Jacob Hook 2 (2,0,0,0) ,Tobias Thomsen 1+1 (1',0,TS,0)

Full Heat Details and Meeting Report