TOUGH TEST AHEAD

Poole Coastal Aluminium Pirates face a stern test this evening when they visit the home of Elite league leaders King's Lynn just 24 hours after suffering a single point defeat at home to Coventry.

The Pirates saw a comfortable 12 point lead against the Bees slip away in the closing stages of their home meeting last night and will need to pick themselves up and focus on trying to be the raiders themselves as they take on a Lynn club that last lost a league match at home in June 2013.

The Pirates  are boosted by the news that Darcy Ward who took an awkward fall in the vital heat 15 at Wimborne Road, immediately declared himself fit to ride this evening, despite still nursing an injured knee for which he has been undergoing extensive physio treatment.

Whilst the Pirates field their regular declared side, the Stars will be tracking world champion Tai Woffinden as a guest replacement for Kenneth Bjerre and also have Darren Mallett deputising at reserve for the injured Lewis Rose.

Ironically the last time the Pirates rode in Norfolk they had Woffinden guesting for themselves and ran out 50-39 winners on that occasion (May 15th 2013), although only Maciej Janowski, who scored 11 points for the Pirates that night, remains on duty for the Dorset club. That night the Stars were well served by their reserve stand-in Josh Grajczonek, now a fully fleged Pirate, who scored 9+1 from 6 rides.

Teams from

King's Lynn: N.Iversen, R.Lambert, N.Porsing, R.Schlein, T.Woffinden, L.Kerr, D.Mallett - team manager R.Lyons

Poole:  J.Grajczonek, M.Janowski, V.Milik, P.Pawlicki, D.Ward, B.Hopwood, K.Newman - team manager N.Middleditch