PREVIEW: PLYMOUTH v POOLE - "MUST WIN" CLAIMS FORD

After their resounding victory in the first leg of the BSN Series semi-final over Workington on Wednesday night, the Poole 'Wessex Marine' Pirates focus once again on trying to secure top spot in the SGB Cab Direct Championship when they make the short trip west to Plymouth.

Holding a 20-point advantage for the bonus point the Pirates know that realistically they are going to need to return with all three points if they want to keep the pressure on Oxford who are a threat to that top spot.
Promoter Dan Ford claims, this is "a must-win match if we're to secure top spot in the league. Unfortunately, we're without our usual reserves, with Tobias on compassionate leave and Vinnie still recovering from injury. However, we're bringing in experienced reserves who know their way around the Coliseum, with Paul Starke and Ben Trigger stepping in. We're ready to give it our all and keep pushing forward."

The Pirates have already experienced a 47-43 triumph at the Colisseum this season, having won their BSN Group fixture at the beginning of June and since becoming a Championship level side, the Pirates have only lost twice there and their lowest score being 37 points.

Since the two sides last met, the Gladiators have made a line-up change, having dispensed with the services of ex-Pirate Kyle Newman in favour of Dane Patryk Baek, whilst they have also been resigned to losing Nico Covatti for the remainder of the season due to an arm injury, the Italian never really having fully recovered from the serious injuries he sustained whilst competing in the Argentinian championships last winter.

As Ford said, Poole continue to be without Vinnie Foord who is recovering from a shoulder injury and has recently undergone oxygen tent treatment to try and expedite a return to fitness whilst Tobias Thomsen will also be absent, enforcing the double change at reserve with the Pirates calling on former Gladiators Ben Trigger who will cover for the Dane, under the 'no facility' restrictions, and Paul Starke who steps in for Foord.

Team news:
Plymouth* (TM Garry May) 1 TBC 2 Alfie Bowtell 3 Dan Thompson 4 Patryk Baek 5 Ben Barker (Capt) 6 Joe Thompson 7 Jacob Hook
Poole (TM Neil Middleditch) 1 Richard Lawson 2 Sam Hagon 3 Ben Cook (Capt) 4 Zach Cook 5 Tom Brennan 6 Paul Starke (G) 7 Ben Trigger (G)

*subject to confirmation

Photo credit: Dan Westlake