BELLE VUE 49 PIRATES 41

The 'ReadyPower' Pirates just couldn't find that all important breakthrough against the league leaders Belle Vue that might have gained them a consolation point, as they went down by 8 points in the first of their two Bank Holiday meetings.

Having fallen behind by 8 points in the first seven heats the Pirates tried desparately hard to trim the deficit as the final 8 heats were all shared as three-alls.

Number one Chris Holder, after just paid 2 from his first two rides, finished very impressively despite the onset of a migraine that will rule him out of the evening visit to Leicester for the Pirates. He won each of his final three rides and had it not been for an early race retirement by skipper Hans Andersen when in a point scoring position, the Dorset side might well have snatched the heat advantage that could have proved crucial come the final league table.

Poole boss Matt Ford was hoping for a minimum of five points from this Bank Holiday double bill, a target that the Pirates can not attain but it makes winning against the bottom side even more critical for the club who are chasing their fourth-successive Elite league title.

There was good early showing from youngsters Adam Ellis and Kyle Newman but both tailed off as the meeting, staged in bright sunshine, evolved. In contrast though Holder and Kurtz improved, whilst Bjarne Pedersen's winning ride over Richie Worrall and Joe Jacobs was very impressive.

BELLE VUE 49
M. Zagar 3,2',3,2,1'=11+2
S. Worrall 0,2,1',0=3+1
M. Fricke 3,1',1',3,2=10+2
S. Nicholls 1',2,1',0=4+2
C. Cook 1,3,2,1'=7+1
R. Worrall 2',0,2,2=6+1
J. Jacobs 3,2,2,1'=8+1
POOLE 41
C. Holder 1',0,3,3,3=10+1
A. Ellis 2,3,0,0=5
K. Buczkowski 0,1,2,1'=4+1
B. Kurtz 0,0,3,2=5
H. Andersen 2,3,1',R,0=6+1
B. Pedersen 0,1,3=4
K. Newman 1,3,3,0,0=7

Ht 1 M. Zagar A. Ellis C. Holder S. Worrall 3-3 (3-3) (62.3)
Ht 2 J. Jacobs R. Worrall K. Newman B. Pedersen 5-1 (8-4) (62.1)
Ht 3 M. Fricke H. Andersen C. Cook K. Buczkowski 4-2 (12-6) (61.1)
Ht 4 K. Newman J. Jacobs S. Nicholls B. Kurtz 3-3 (15-9) (61.4)
Ht 5 A. Ellis S. Worrall B. Pedersen R. Worrall 2-4 (17-13) (62.4)
Ht 6 H. Andersen S. Nicholls M. Fricke C. Holder 3-3 (20-16) (62.2)
Ht 7 C. Cook M. Zagar K. Buczkowski B. Kurtz 5-1 (25-17) (61.3)
Ht 8 K. Newman J. Jacobs S. Nicholls A. Ellis 3-3 (28-20) (63.7)
Ht 9 B. Kurtz R. Worrall S. Worrall K. Newman 3-3 (31-23) (62)
Ht 10 C. Holder C. Cook M. Fricke A. Ellis 3-3 (34-26) (62.6)
Ht 11 M. Zagar K. Buczkowski H. Andersen S. Worrall 3-3 (37-29) (63.1)
Ht 12 B. Pedersen R. Worrall J. Jacobs K. Newman 3-3 (40-32) (63.8)
Ht 13 C. Holder M. Zagar C. Cook H. Andersen (Rtd) 3-3 (43-35) (63.2)
Ht 14 M. Fricke B. Kurtz K. Buczkowski S. Nicholls 3-3 (46-38) (63.3)
Ht 15 C. Holder M. Fricke M. Zagar H. Andersen 3-3 (49-41) (63.7)

Referee W.Dishington
Gates: Poole won toss & take 1&3 Aces take 1&3 in ht 15
BELLE VUE 3 league points POOLE 0 league points

Picture: IAN CHARLES