PERFECT NIGHT FOR PIRATES

POOLE moved five points clear at the top of the Cab Direct Championship with an emphatic 57-33 win over second-placed Glasgow at Wimborne Road.

Richard Lawson raced to a 15-point maximum for the Pirates, who also collected the aggregate point, and there was a dream debut for 16-year-old Will Cairns.

The youngster won his opening ride as part of a 5-1 with Paul Starke and also added a Heat 8 victory, finishing with an impressive 8+1 from four outings.

Visitors Glasgow, without two of their regulars, were unable to recover from a disastrous start which saw them go 18-6 down after Heat 4. Chris Harris top scored with 11 as they suffered a first away defeat in the league this season.

Pirates manager Neil Middleditch said: “The key was the first four heats, we had to get a head-start because earlier in the season we’ve been a bit slower starting, but we got a nice lead and kept it there so that was good.

“It was a brilliant debut for Will and I’m really pleased for him. There was a lot of pressure on the young lad’s shoulders, but he’s got a mature head and he rode very well.

“When he makes starts he’s very hard to catch, and here’s a lot more to come from that boy for sure.”

Glasgow boss Cami Brown said: “We lost it at the start. We got a little bit of pride back towards the second half of the meeting. But not good enough. The boys know it.

“We’ll have to regroup and come back. We don’t become a bad team overnight. 

“It’s a difficult place to come. But if you start like we did, your backs are against the wall.”

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Phoro credit: TONY HARTMAN