PIRATES MAKE MOVE FOR JOE

Having gone to the top of the SGB Cab Direct Championship, albeit on race points difference, the Poole 'Wessex Marine' Pirates have made their first team change of the season with Joe Thompson becoming a permanent number seven, with the injured Adam Roynon making way.

Poole promoter Dan Ford said "we looked at our options and we knew that having a permanent one to seven was important as we prepare for some crucial matches between now and the end of the season, with two trophies still to ride for. Searching for suitable guests is no easy task and a different face in the pits every meeting is not ideal, particularly for team morale, so hopefully having Joe in on a permanent basis we will be able to forge a strong team off track as well as on. "Obviously it is hard luck on Adam, but being uncertain of when he would be fit enough to return and with three league matches, two legs of the Knockout cup final and the play-offs all to come and with the signing deadline rapidly approaching, we knew we had to act sooner rather than later."

For Thompson it has been a season of ins-and-outs having lost his starting Championship team place with Scunthorpe, before being snapped up by Birmingham and then released after seven appearances for the Brummies when he sustained a broken collarbone. That injury also cost him his place in the  Premiership where he was replaced by his twin-brother Dan.

On Wednesday night against Redcar Joe, fresh back from that collarbone injury, fought had for this paid three points for the Pirates and he can now look forward to building on that as he makes his official club debut on Sunday (20th August) against Edinburgh.