PIRATES' STARS ARE CHASING THE COMETS

Poole 'Wessex Marine Pirates head into the start of the school holidays with a match up against the only 2025 Championship Club that they have yet to take at least a point from, in any competition this season, when the Workington 'GT Tyres' Comets drop in at the Wimborne Road stadium.

The Comets celebrated  a 51-39 victory over the Pirates when the two sides met in Cumbria, immediately after the Northside club had been cleared to race again after a BSPL imposed sanction.

Whilst the Poole boys have consigned that meeting to being 'a bad day at the office' they will be mustering all their Pirate Pride as they seek to keep the league points flowing. Since that defeat, only their second in the league this campaign, the Pirates have overcome Edinburgh at home and Scunthorpe away but in neither of those have they all been firing consistently.

"It is the consistency that we are looking for" admits Poole boss Dan Ford, "we have been showing signs in every meeting so far but we have yet to all-click together. When that comes then our opponents will have to be something very special to live with us. We have to focus on maintaining good form at home and I guess you could say we have a score to settle from our trip to Workington. There is absolutely everything to ride for as we need to win big to claim the bonus point after our twelve point defeat at their place. We are in the middle of a good schedule of fixtures right now and that provides us the opportunity to find some momentum. Ask any rider and they will always admit they would rather be out there riding their bike and with the summer holidays now upon us, hopefully we will be able to enjoy plenty of support over the forthcoming weeks, and I just want to remind parents that kids under 11 are admitted free so bring them along so they can add to the noise levels that serve to inspire the riders.  "

The presence of the Comets means a return to Wimborne Road for a rider that etched his place in the hearts of Poole fans last season with his totally committed performances, Vinnie Foord. He will occupy a reserve berth alongside Jacob Hook, whilst Troy Batchelor, Tate Zischke and Antti Vuolas lead the Workington attack in terms of averages. Jye Etheridge and track debutant Fraser Bowes (a fifth Australian in the Cumbrian side) complete the visiting septet who face battle against an unchanged Poole side that will be looking to emulate the performances of their predecessors against Workington sides in the past, as the Pirates currently hold a 100% success rate from the Comets five visits. 

Teams

Poole (TM Neil Middleditch) 1 Richard Lawson 2 Tobias Thomsen 3 Lewis Kerr 4 Zach Cook (capt) 5 Anders Rowe 6 Paul Starke 7 William Cairns

Workington (TM James Denham) 1 Troy Batchelor  (Capt) 2 Fraser Bowes 3 Tate Zischke 4 Jye Etheridge 5 Antti Vuolas 6 Jacob Hook 7 Vinnie Foord

Photo credit Dave Payne