JOB DONE FOR PIRATES

POOLE completed their regular Cab Direct Championship programme with a 46-43 win at Oxford to end their schedule on 31 points.

The Pirates are four points ahead of Glasgow who still have three matches remaining in the race to finish top ahead of the play-offs.

The meeting at BetGoodwin Oxford Stadium went down to a last heat decider after Oxford fought back from seven points down to go one ahead with a 5-1 from Sam Masters and Cameron Heeps in Heat 13.

But Pirates reserve Paul Starke combined with skipper Zach Cook for a 5-1 in Heat 14 to put the visitors back ahead, and whilst Masters won Heat 15, Heeps was this time kept at the back by Richard Lawson and Cook.

Lawson (12) and Cook (10+2) both reached double figures and Starke contributed a crucial 8+2, whilst Masters racked up 15+2 from six rides for the Cheetahs.

Starke said: “For me it was one of those nights, being on the floor twice, and suffering a breakdown.

“But we knew we needed to try and relieve the pressure for Heat 15, and we gave ourselves a chance and the boys went and did it in the end.

“I knew in 14 that we had to do something, so I just sent it. I had the confidence because Zach was there, so it was just a matter of holding on and we got there in the end, and I’m happy.”

Watch the action from Heat 13 (courtesy of OXFORD SPEEDWAY TV | https://livestream.oxfordspeedway.club)

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Photo credit: LES AUBREY