RESULT: POOLE 49 WOLVERHAMPTON 41

Poole Pirates managed to find a late rally to secure another three league points with a heat to spare as they eventually fought off a resilient Wolverhampton side that kept countering their heat scores. And, with skipper Darcy Ward taking a heavy fall in the first running of the final heat the Poole faithful were grateful that Vaclav Milik's heat 14 win supported by Kyle Newman's third place had put the meeting beyond the reach of the Midlanders.

Ward, who along with Josh Grajczonek had opened proceedings with a 5-1 over world champion Tai Woffinden, albeit after a rather ragged start that fortuitously went unpunished, had to eventually sit out the re-run of the final heat on medical advice, but admitted when accepting his Rider of the Night Award that he "felt good and was pretty sure he had not done any damage."

The honour of Rider of the Night was largely bestowed upon him for his brilliant move in heat 13 when he bravely powered his way around the outside of Woffinden that helped immensely to secure the night's result.

Poole were 10 points - the biggest advantage they had held all match - to the good going into that crucial 13th heat and had Woffinden held on to the victory then the destiny of the league points could have gone down to the wire, for Piotr Pawlicki had made a telling pass on Maciej Janowski moments after Ward's excellent move. That outcome therefore served to protect that double figure lead and when Milik got away fast in heat 14 there was to be no way back for the visitors, even allowing for Woffinden and Piotr Pawlicki to close out the meeting with a 5-1.

POOLE 49
D. Ward 3,2',3,3=11+1
J. Grajczonek 2',2,2',3,1=10+2
Pr. Pawlicki 2,0,2',1'=5+2
V. Milik 3,1,3,3,0=10
M. Janowski 1',3,2,0=6+1
B. Hopwood 0,0,0=0
K. Newman 3,1',1,1,1=7+1
WOLVERHAMPTON 41
T. Woffinden 1,3,3,2,2'=11+1
T. Proctor 0,1',0,0=1+1
J. Thorsell 0,0,1,1=2
R. Wells 1,3,0,2=6
Pi. Pawlicki 3,2',0,1',3=9+2
J. Jacobs 2,0,2',2=6+1
T. Perry 1',2,3,0=6+1

Ht 1 D. Ward J. Grajczonek T. Woffinden T. Proctor 5-1 (5-1) (61.53)
Ht 2 K. Newman J. Jacobs T. Perry B. Hopwood 3-3 (8-4) (62.16)
Ht 3 Pi. Pawlicki Pr. Pawlicki M. Janowski J. Thorsell 3-3 (11-7) (60.65)
Ht 4 V. Milik T. Perry T. Proctor B. Hopwood 3-3 (14-10) (60.9)
Ht 5 M. Janowski D. Ward R. Wells J. Thorsell 5-1 (19-11) (60.47)
Ht 6 T. Woffinden Pi. Pawlicki V. Milik Pr. Pawlicki 1-5 (20-16) (60.44)
Ht 7 R. Wells J. Grajczonek K. Newman J. Jacobs 3-3 (23-19) (61.37)
Ht 8 V. Milik Pr. Pawlicki J. Thorsell T. Proctor 5-1 (28-20) (60.65)
Ht 9 T. Perry J. Jacobs K. Newman B. Hopwood 1-5 (29-25) (62.09)
Ht 10 D. Ward J. Grajczonek J. Thorsell Pi. Pawlicki 5-1 (34-26) (61.47)
Ht 11 T. Woffinden M. Janowski Pr. Pawlicki R. Wells 3-3 (37-29) (61.22)
Ht 12 J. Grajczonek J. Jacobs K. Newman T. Proctor 4-2 (41-31) (62.13)
Ht 13 D. Ward T. Woffinden Pi. Pawlicki M. Janowski 3-3 (44-34) (60.68)
Ht 14 V. Milik R. Wells K. Newman T. Perry 4-2 (48-36) (61.35)
Ht 15 Pi. Pawlicki T. Woffinden J. Grajczonek V. Milik 1-5 (49-41) (60.75)

Referee Christina Turnbull
Gates: Poole won toss and take 1&3 in heat 1. Wolverhampton take 1&3 in heat 15