GRITTY PIRATES KEEP TREBLE GOAL GOING

Treble-seeking Poole skipper Zach Cook was relatively satisfied with the team's efforts in the first leg of the BSN Series Final after they went down to a determined Redcar side by a 44-46 score.

Having achieved another double figure score with a return of 11 points, Cook said "the boys showed a bit of grit tonight. Hard as it was to put last night's achievements behind us, we knew we needed to focus . It was a busy night in the pits as we had a few to many mechanical issues, as a side, but I think we can be happy with a two-point loss. I really think it is ours for the taking now. If we can get a good start from Rich (Richard Lawson)  I believe we will sort of being carrying the momentum through the rest of the meeting. We've been going well at home so there is no reason why we can't lift the third part of the treble. Tonight we found the track a bit sort of slicker than they have been and it was sort of, well yeah, hard to be a bit fast there. I think it was needing to be on the one line but yeah, it was all right and easy to ride."

Poole recovered from a rare heat one reversal to the tune of a 5-1 but a sprightly winning ride from William Cairns preceded a huge nerve-settling 5-1 from Cook and Lewi Kerr edged Poole ahead. Back to back 5-1's from heats eight and nine saw the pendulum swing back in Redcar's favour but the Pirates were able to do a sterling effort in keeping close tabs on the Bears. Lewi Kerr featured in two crucial Poole heat gains, each of a 4-2 as he dropped just the one point to an opponent all evening, whilst Charles Wright was the only rider able to get the better of Captain Cook.

Scorers:
REDCAR 46 -Charles Wright 12+1 (2',2,2,3,3) ,Danny King 8 (2,3,3,0) ,Jason Edwards 7+1 (0,3,2',2,0) ,Jake Mulford 6+2 (3,1',2',0) ,Leon Flint 5+1 (1,0,3,1') ,Ace Pijper 4+1 (0,1',3,0) ,Jody Scott 4 (2,0,0,2)
POOLE 44 -Zach Cook 11 (3,2,1,3,2) ,Lewis Kerr 9+2 (2',1',3,3) ,Anders Rowe 8 (3,3,0,2) ,Richard Lawson 7+2 (1,2,2,1',1') ,William Cairns 4 (3,0,1,0) ,Paul Starke 3 (1,0,1,1) ,Tobias Thomsen 2+2 (0,1',0,1')"

The tie concludes on Wednesday (22nd October) night at Wimborne Road when the curtain will also fall on a truly memorable season for the 'Wessex Marine' Pirates.

Heat Details

Photo credit Liam Cockwell