GLADIATORS LEAD BY EIGHT

PLYMOUTH will take an eight-point lead to Poole on Wednesday thanks to a 49-41 home win in the first leg of their MAXiCab KO Cup quarter-final.

It was the Gladiators’ first-ever victory over the Pirates in this competition, as they built an advantage in the closing stages after the scores were tied with five races remaining.

Having dropped ten points down, Poole hit back with a 4-2 from Richard Lawson and Anders Rowe in Heat 15 to bring the deficit back to single figures.

Captain Ben Barker led the Gladiators’ scoring with 13, whilst Lawson recovered from a Heat 1 last place to post 10 for the Pirates.

Poole promoter Dan Ford said: “I don’t really know why, but we just seemed to fall apart a bit between Heats 11 and 14, and that allowed them to get away from us.

“We were able to salvage something from Heat 15 that certainly keeps the tie alive, but we have got to be strong from start to finish on Wednesday.”

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Photo credit: UK WEATHER CHASE