PREVIEW: PIRATES SEASON LAUNCHES WITH KEY CLASHES AGAINST ARCH RIVALS OXFORD

With the memories of two intensive finals from 2024 still being replayed in the minds of Poole and Oxford supporters, the two sides meet again this week in home and away clashes against each other, in the first of the BSN Series Southern Group fixtures, to launch Poole's season.

The action begins at Sandy Lane, Oxford on Wednesday (7.30pm) before switching to Wimborne Road on Friday (18th April 6pm) and there is nothing but eagerness in the Poole camp to get racing.

After a season's absence from the Poole side, Anders Rowe is chomping at the bit to get racing for Poole again admitting, "I am ready to go. It is awesome to be back on the sunshine coast and I really feel that my season away last year has been good for me. Fair play to the management too, they put a side together that swept the board , winning the treble which was phenomenal. They did a really good job so now I've got the chance to be back , I am keen to follow the standards set last year."

Promoter Dan Ford, instrumental in recalling Rowe for this term, is as excited as anyone with the start of the season now zooming in. "It's always exciting to get the season started and opening up against Oxford, especially after last year's unforgettable Finals, sets the tone perfectly. We know Wednesday's trip won't be easy; they have already hit the ground running this year and we will need to be sharp. Then all eyes are firmly on the return leg at Wimborne Road on Good Friday. It is always a standout fixture in our calendar and we are expecting a bumper crowd so can only urge supporters to book their tickets online to help with queue congestion. I want to remind everyone that gates will open at 5pm for our 6pm start, with children under 11 admitted free of charge.

We can't wait to see the 2025 Pirates in action on home shale for the first time, it promises to be a fantastic occasion and a real cracker of a tie."

Teams (both meetings)
Oxford (TM Peter Schroek) 1 Sam Masters (capt) 2 Jonas Knudsen 3 Jordan Jenkins 4 Dan Gilkes 5 Cameron Heeps 6 Mitch McDiarmid 7 Luke Killeen
POOLE (TM Neil Middleditch) 1 Richard Lawson 2 Tobias Thomsen 3 Anders Rowe 4 Zach Cook (capt) 5 Lewis Kerr 6 Paul Starke 7 Matt Marson