Previewing: Poole Pirates v Swindon Robins Select - Challenge

Both the Poole and Swindon Select sides have been forced into eve-of-meeting changes with neither Steve Worrall (illness) nor Stefan Nielsen (unfit) now available.
 

The structure of the two teams for the night's challenge fixture between the Poole 'Wessex Marine' Pirates and a Select Swindon Robins side had been finalised with Jack Smith and Sam Hagon completing the visitors who will be led by Jason Doyle and feature current Pirate Anders Rowe.
Smith was in the Swindon side that competed in the Elite League in 2018, the Wiltshire-based club's penultimate campaign and so will link up again with Nick Morris, whilst Hagon steps in at reserve having ridden in the recent Swindon Select side that took on Oxford.
But Poole's number one Steve Worrall is suffering with illness and his place will be taken by Australian Ryan Douglas whilst Nielsen has endured a few falls of late which has left him battered and bruised and so has stepped aside to allow himself to recover fully from the effects of those crashes, with Alfie Bowtell now taking his place in the Robins Select side.
Looking ahead to the fixture, Poole reserve and stand-in skipper Kyle Newman admits " Obviously we all hope that some point in the near future they (Swindon) get back on a home track as we as Poole Pirates have had some rivalries with them in the past. I think it is good to have a rivalry, it's good for the fans, the sponsors, the club to have a local team where you can have some banter with, everyone loves that, meetings where you can have a bit of spice, but, you know, this meeting is not quite so much about that. It's  more to put the Swindon logo back in people's faces. It's good to have them (Swindon) back on track"
Newman then remembered the night back in September 2017 when he guested for Swindon at Wimborne Road in the play-off semi-finals and scored eight (paid nine) towards the Robins' 46-44 first leg triumph that set them up to deny the Pirates a chance of contesting another play-off final, leaving Alun Rossiter, the Robins manager,  with plenty to smile about. This time around though Newman is keen to do the business for Poole and admitted "Yeah, I think I owe Poole fans something after that one and it would also be good to wipe the smile of Rosco's face, but he's a winner and he'll certainly be rallying the boys up as he will want to win as much as anything. Rosco's that way inclined. He goes into every match wanting to win it, just like we do so it might be a challenge  match by nature but it's not going to be."

Post meeting there will be an auction for each of the Robins' race bibs, which will be held in the Champs Bar immediately after the regular Press conference

Poole season ticket holders are reminded that Wednesday's meeting is not covered in the season ticket package and it will be an all-pay event either at the door or alternatively on-line in advance by accessing  Tickets though are available to purchase on-line by accessing here

Teams
Poole 'Wessex Marine Pirates 1 Ryan Douglas 2 Keynan Rew 3 Ben Cook 4 Zach Cook 5 Richard Lawson 6 Kyle Newman (Capt) 7 Adam Roynon Team manager Neil Middleditch
Swindon Robins Select 1 Jason Doyle (Capt) 2 Anders Rowe 3 Justin Sedgmen 4 Alfie Bowtell 5 Nick Morris 6 Jack Smith 7 Sam Hagon Team manager Alun Rossiter