CUP FINAL FOR PIRATES

POOLE steamed into the KO Cup Final with a massive 60-30 win at home to Leicester – despite the scores being close at the halfway stage.

The aggregate position was tied after Heat 7 with the Lions having gone into the meeting two points ahead, but the Pirates then embarked on a remarkable run of seven 5-1s in the last eight races to sweep their opponents aside.

Richard Lawson (14+1) and Ben Cook (11+4) both scored paid maximums for the rampant hosts as they set up a Final against Redcar, whilst Richie Worrall notched nine for the Lions.

Poole skipper Danny King said: “When we went behind after Heat 5 and were down on aggregate, we just all got together and said, ‘this just isn’t good enough, so come on.’

“I suppose there were a few choice words exchanged, but it seemed to do the job and when those 5-1’s started coming we thought, ‘Right, that’s great, we are back in it.’ Then we got another one, and it was, ‘Right, let’s keep it going.’

“Then the third 5-1, that’s it, you’re away, everyone’s buzzing, everyone’s bouncing around and we just kept it going. To see that scoreline at the end was just unbelievable. To be that close after five heats and to win by 30, it’s just crazy.”

Lions manager Stewart Dickson said: “It was a very disappointing night. We started pretty well but then it was basically the same as last year here, and we just collapsed again.

“I’ve told the riders I’m bitterly disappointed, but the conversation other than that remains between me and them, and obviously they’re disappointed too.

“I’m not going to dress it up, we weren’t good enough and we’re all hurting, myself included. But it’s one big defeat, which we haven’t had since way back at the start of the season.”

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Photo credit: ANTHONY BURCHELL