PIRATES ON A TROPHY HUNT

21/09/26

It is trophy-hunting week as the Poole 'Wessex Marine' look to return the BSN Series trophy back to their honours cabinet after a season away.

Redcar Bears denied the Pirates the treble in 2025, when they secured a narrow two point aggregate victory over the Pirates when they forced a second leg draw in the final at Wimborne Road last October.

It is the Bears who stand in Poole's way again as the Pirates have aspirations for another double this season and number one Richard Lawson is under no illusion that Redcar will be tough opponents, when Poole travel there on Tuesday night:-

"I'm looking forward to the finals this week. I think that it is going to be tough. They are going well , they have got good riders and I guess there will be question marks over Slater's (Slater Lightcap) fitness. But I do think that over two legs we are better than all the teams in the league so I think we can do it."

Lightcap suffered a hand injury during the Pirates' play-off semi final victory at Edinburgh on Friday night, and will miss the first leg for certain, but the Pirates havent given up hope that he might be cleared to take his part in the reserve. Poole call upon Jordy Loftus to ride on Tuesday.

Redcar's Jody Scott won the British U19 championship on Saturday, with a 15-point maximum, denying Cooper Rushen (2nd) the chance of becoming both U21 Champion and the younger category winner in the same season. Will Cairns finished 4th in the meeting, staged at Plymouth, Scunthorpe's Luke Harrison claiming bronze.

After suffering two defeats in a fourteen day period in May when they were beaten by Poole then Scunthorpe, the Bears have won their last eight home matches. The second leg of the final takes place at Wimborne Road on Wednesday

Line-ups: Redcar (TM Gavin Parr) 1 Charles Wright (Capt) 2 Jake Mulford 3 Jody Scott 4 Jake Allen, 5 Jason Edwards 6 Simon Lambert 7 Ace Pijper

Poole (TM Gary Havelock) 1 Richard Lawson 2 William Cairns 3 Lewis Kerry 4 Cooper Rushen 5 Zach Cook (Capt) 6 Jordy Loftus (Guest) 7 Kyle Newman.