PIRATES SNATCH SUPER HEAT WIN

POOLE made a strong start to their BSN Series defence with a Super Heat victory following on from a hard-fought 45-45 draw at Oxford.

Zach Cook and Richard Lawson combined for a 5-1 in Heat 15 to bring the Pirates level on the night, with the same combination then following Sam Masters home in the decider, crucially keeping Cameron Heeps at the back.

It gave the visitors two away points to kick off the Southern group, with the Cheetahs restricted to one on their home circuit, ahead of the return fixture on Good Friday.

Cook scored an impressive 13+1 in the main meeting for the Pirates and Lawson chipped in with 10+2, whilst Masters scored 13 for the hosts with Heat 15 being his only defeat of the night.

Said Cook: “It was a close meeting throughout and me and Rich did what we had to do in the last couple of rides, so it is all good.

“It was nice to come here and get the win. Obviously it is early days, and we now need to make Friday count too.

“As for that Super Heat, we just knew that we needed a minimum of second and third, and so when he (Masters) got out in front then it was just a matter of doing what we needed to do.”

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Photo credit: STEVE EDMUNDS