REPORT: Poole Pirates v Plymouth Gladiators (BSN)

23/04/25

Poole secured a comfortable opening home night win in their second BSN Series Group fixture, defeating Plymouth 58-32 with Skipper Zach Cook leading the way with a splending paid maximum.

The early warning signs from Plymouth were soon batted away once the Wessex Marine Pirates got into their stride in their opening home match of the season.
Former Pirate Nicolai Klindt led proceedings in heat one to inflict, what was to prove the only defeats of the night on both Richard Lawson and Tobias Thomsen, with the points shared. But catching himself by moving early at the heat two tapes cost Paul Starke yards and a warning in heat two, the Gladiators' reserves Lasse Fredriksen, who is set to be proven as one of the top reserves in the Championship, and Ben Trigger capitalised. Poole's response was instant and emphatic as Anders Rowe and Zach Cook showed what a pairing they are turning out to be and they were untroubled by ex-Poole man Joe Thompson and track debutant Mitchell Cluff. It wasn't easy work for Lewi Kerr in his first ride, heat four, as he had Ben Barker just nipping at his heels waiting for half an opening, but the recently signed Sheffield Tiger should firm to keep the scores balanced.
Zach Cook produced an excellent move to go by Klindt and establish a Poole lead for the first time whilst Tobias Thomsen was gritted and brave to drive through a gap left by Barker and Fredriksen as the trio came out off the apex of turn one. Thomsen quickly joined Lawson to extend the lead to six, prompting an immediate strengthening of Plymouth's pairing, as Klindt replaced Cluff as a tactical substitute. The Dane was looking out for the young Englishman from the very off , but he may well have rued pulling clear in the latter stages as Kerr found some speed to close in on Thompson. But Plymouth held on to bring their deficit back to just two points. The Gladiators hopes of reducing it further dissipated in heat eight when Fredriksen shed a chain in the first arc and that left Thomsen and Starke a much easier task in the re-run just needing to keep Trigger under control. Thomsen's win was celebrated with a donut, much to the delight of the good sized crowd that had turned out for the meeting.
Two more maximums followed in quick succession to extend Poole's lead to fourteen. During his second third of the meeting the Pirates had outscored their neigbours 21-9 as all five heats in that period had finished as a 5-1, four to Poole and that heat seven on in favour of the visitors, which was to prove their last heat gain.
Starting controversy in heat eleven as Lewi Kerr edged a little sending Klindt launching into the tapes and being sent fifteen metres for the re-start, with Kerr also ticked off by the referee. It meant that both Poole representatives were on 'yellows'. Bowtell produced one of his better starts of the night but it wasn't enough to hold the Poole boys out. But Klindt had plenty of speed was was up with and passing Starke on the second lap, the Poole rider losing his balance and forcing yet another re-run. Kerr again got away well and Bowtell was more than happy to wave Klindt through so as not to impede his chances, which he nearly managed to take as there was little margin between winner Kerr and Klindt once the four laps had been completed.
Hopes of Matt Marson opening his home account were thwarted when Cluff picked him off during heat twelve and then Poole really began to twist the knife in. A trio of 5-1's to close the meeting out with took the final score to 58-32.

POOLE 58
Richard Lawson 2,3,3,2',2'=12+2 (5)
Tobias Thomsen 1',2',3,2'=8+3 (4)
Anders Rowe 3,1,2',3=9+1 (4)
Zach Cook 2',3,3,3,3=14+1 (5)
Lewis Kerr 3,1,3,3=10 (4)
Paul Starke 1,0,2',FD,2'=5+2 (5)
Matt Marson 0,0,RS,0=0 (3)
.
PLYMOUTH 32
Nicolai Klindt 3,2,3,2EH,1,1=12 (6)
Alfie Bowtell 0,0,RS,1'=1+1 (3)
Mitchell Cluff 0,TS,0,1'=1+1 (3)
Joe Thompson 1,2',1,1=5+1 (4)
Ben Barker 2,1,1,0,0=4 (5)
Lasse Fredriksen 3,0,FD,R,RS=3 (4)
Ben Trigger 2',1',1,2,0=6+2 (5)
.
Ht 1: N.Klindt, R.Lawson, T.Thomsen, A.Bowtell 3-3 3-3 [59.68]
Ht 2: L.Fredriksen, B.Trigger, P.Starke, M.Marson 1-5 4-8 [60.35]
Ht 3: A.Rowe, Z.Cook, J.Thompson, M.Cluff 5-1 9-9 [59.93]
Ht 4: L.Kerr, B.Barker, B.Trigger, M.Marson 3-3 12-12 [60.87]
Ht 5: Z.Cook, N.Klindt, A.Rowe, A.Bowtell 4-2 16-14 [60]
Ht 6: R.Lawson, T.Thomsen, B.Barker, L.Fredriksen 5-1 21-15 [60.21]
Ht 7: N.Klindt, J.Thompson, L.Kerr, P.Starke, M.Cluff [Tac Subbed] 1-5 22-20 [60.79]
Ht 8: T.Thomsen, P.Starke, B.Trigger, L.Fredriksen [fell exc] 5-1 27-21 [61.53]
Ht 9: Z.Cook, A.Rowe, B.Barker, L.Fredriksen [rtd] 5-1 32-22 [60.13]
Ht 10: R.Lawson, T.Thomsen, J.Thompson, M.Cluff 5-1 37-23 [61.56]
Ht 11: L.Kerr, N.Klindt[15m handicap], A.Bowtell, P.Starke [fell exc] 3-3 40-26 [61.22]
Ht 12: A.Rowe, B.Trigger, M.Cluff, M.Marson 3-3 43-29 [60.72]
Ht 13: L.Kerr, R.Lawson, N.Klindt, B.Barker 5-1 48-30 [59.69]
Ht 14: Z.Cook, P.Starke, J.Thompson, B.Trigger 5-1 53-31 [60.97]
Ht 15: Z.Cook, R.Lawson, N.Klindt, B.Barker 5-1 58-32 [61.06]

SGB Referee Mr Simon Humphrey-Kennett
POOLE won toss and chose gates 1&3 | PLYMOUTH choose gates 2&4 in heat 15