TOP PIRATES RENEW RIVALRY WITH REBELS

After accelerating to the top of the SGB Premiership table last Monday, the 'Volvo Cars' Poole Pirates have retained that position as they prepare for their next Premiership challenge.

With home defeats for both Somerset and Swindon on Wednesday and Thursday respectively, at the hands of play-off outsiders Belle Vue, the Pirates will head for , Somerset on Monday night looking to extend their two point advantage.

Previously unbeaten at home since Poole won their in October 2017, the Rebels were sprung by Belle Vue who have now given themselves a glimmer of hope of making the final four with the seven point from a possible eight in their last two matches. Appearing in the Aces win at Swindon, Brady Kurtz top scored for the victors with an 11 from 5 return.

The Pirates themselves have collected maximum points from their last four meetings, with three home wins and a four point yield at Leicester which makes them the in-form side in the division currently and that has seen them rise from the basement to hold the initiative.

It will be Poole's third visit of the season to the Oak Tree, having lost heavily in the Knockout cup back in May (52-38) before returing with a point from the league visit in June when they went down 48-42.

It promises to be a crucial week for the Pirates who host Swindon on Wednesday. The Robins currently occupy second place, on level points with Somerset but with a far superior race point differential, two league points behind the Pirates.

Club owner Matt Ford “It’s a real luxury to have a two-point lead going into this week – which is absolutely the most important week of our season so far. I have to be honest and say I wasn’t expecting either Somerset or Swindon to lose their home matches in the week. It was a real surprise.
"To be facing both Somerset and Swindon within 48 hours of each other will be a huge test and they will clearly be looking to put both their results against Belle Vue behind them with a good performance against us." “But we’ve shown we have the spirit and guts to get stuck in so both meetings promise to be as exciting as they will be nail-biting.” Both the Pirates and the Rebels are at full strength for Monday’s televised encounter at the Oak Tree Arena

Somerset: Jason Doyle (capt), Aaron Summers, Nico Covatti, Richard Lawson, Jack Holder, Jake Allen, Bradley Wilson-Dean (Team manager Garry May)

Poole: Brady Kurtz, Josh Grajczonek (capt), Richie Worrall, Nicolai Klindt, Chris Harris, Frederik Jakobsen, Kacper Woryna (Team manager Neil Middleditch)