PIRATES HOPING TO SIGN OFF BIG

The Poole 'Wessex Marine' Pirates will be keen to maintain their unbeaten home sequence which currently stretches to 28 matches, dating from May 14th 2025, when they entertain the Plymouth Gladiators in what will be both club's final regular league fixture.

Poole promoter has his eye on finishing top of the table, which would set up a semi-final tie with the club that finishes fourth, which realistically looks like being either Scunthorpe or Edinburgh: 

"We want to finish top, it is the Pirate Pride in us to be top of the table and we also want to sign off our regular season with another win. We won't be taking Plymouth lightly however, we know from past experience that they can come here and push us all the way. It was only a four point win in the BSN way back on Good Friday when we launched our season and of course they come here with Danny King who was a major part of Poole in recent seasons and certainly knows how to ride our place. Our home form has been good and we have the bonus point against every team in the league and we trail by four against Plymouth, having lost their 43-47 in August, an away score that has haunted us this month."

Victory for Poole will see them finish on 30 league points, a tally that only Glasgow would be able to beat - provided that the Tigers win at Plymouth on Tuesday - and it will also equal the club's fifth best home sequence which dates back to the period from 22nd October 1951 to 6th October 1952.

Poole's best home sequence is a staggering 36 matches (established between 12th July 1954 and 3rd October 1955).

Plymouth have booked Troy Batchelor as their guest replacement for the still injured Scott Nicholls whilst Poole have their full one-to-seven.

Teams: Poole (TM Neil Middleditch)1  Richard Lawson 2 William Cairns 3 Lewis Kerr 4 Cooper Rushen 5 Zach Cook (Capt) 6 Slater Lightcap 7 Kyle Newman
Plymouth (TM Garry May) 1 Troy Batchelor (Guest) 2 Joe Thompson 3 Daniel Klima 4 Ben Barker (Capt) 5 Danny King 6 Anze Grmek 7 Ben Whalley.