PIRATES LOSE THEIR ANCHOR BUT PROGRESS TO CUP FINAL

Denied the services of their anchor man Richard Lawson, the man who puts the Rock in Rocketman, and then losing Lewis Kerr after just one ride, the gallant Poole Wessex Marine Pirates still managed to secure their place in this season's MaxiCab Knockout Cup final.
 

Reaching their second final of the season and their fifth successive KO Cup last two, the Pirates held on to the much of their fourteen point advantage from the first leg and had the job 'done' with a race to spare, although losing 49-41 on the night.

Stepping up to the plate for the Pirates was 16 year-old William Cairns who scored paid 11 from reserve and featured in the heat fourteen shared heat that sealed the Pirates progress.

He confessed after the meeting that "I'm over the moon, Toby (Tobias Thomsen) and Dan Ford both said to me that we need a 3-3 from the heat and I told myself that I was going to be part of it . Zach cleared off but I was determined to hold on. It has been a  bit of an up and down season for me and Havvy (Gary Havelock) said to me once we knew Lewi would be out, that this was game time now and it was likely I would have seven rides. People say to me that I am only sixteen but my answer to that is I might only be sixteen but I am a professional athlete so that means I can't be acting like a sixteen year old. I have a job to do and am determined to do as good as I can."

Poole made a late call to Berwick's Jonas Jeppesen to cover for Lawson who has suffered a recurrence of a back injury and the Dane stepped in to the mighty shoes of the Poole number one, settling the nerves somewhat by leading home Chris Harris in heat one. Poole's misfortunes were further compounded when Kerr reared in his first ride, damaging his hip, explaining "I broke this hip a few seasons ago and always have had a weak point there since, so I feel pretty beaten up right now, but I am determined to be back. I was delighted that the boys went out there and got the job done. It was a great relief and a good team effort."

The Pirates now await for the outcome of the second semi-final between Redcar and Oxford to learn who their cup final opponents will be.

GLASGOW 49 (87) - Leon Flint 13+1 (2',3,3,3,2) ,Dan Thompson 11+3 (3,2',2',3,1') ,Chris Harris 11 (2,3,3,3) ,Kyle Howarth 7 (2,2,2,1) ,Freddy Hodder 4+1 (2,1',FD,0,1,0) ,Michael Palm-Toft 3+1 (1',1,1,RS) ,Max Perry 0 (0,0,0,RS,RS)
POOLE 41 (93) - Zach Cook 11 (1,3,2,2,3) ,Jonas Jeppesen 9 (3,1,3,2,FD) ,William Cairns 8+3 (3,0,1,2',1',0,1') ,Anders Rowe 6 (3,2,1,0) ,Tobias Thomsen 6 (0,0,3,1,2) ,Paul Starke 1 (1,0,0,RS) ,Lewis Kerr 0 (FD,NS,NS,NS).

Full Heat Details and Meeting report 

Photo Credit Tony Hartmann