PIRATES IN CHARGE OF BSN SEMI

POOLE took a big step towards reaching another BSN Series Final by racking up a big 58-32 home win over Oxford in the first leg of their semi-final.

The Pirates dominated at Wimborne Road with Richard Lawson scoring a 15-point maximum, and Tobias Thomsen (9+3) was unbeaten until Heat 15, with all seven home riders securing at least one win or paid win.

Lawson said: “That’s what you go for every time but it’s tough, especially when you meet Sam Masters.

“I’ve said it before, I believe he is one of the best No.1s in the league and to come up against him three times is tough.

“Maybe I got a bit lucky in Heat 15 as in the first attempt he seemed to have me, but then it was called back and we got it done when it counted.”

The Cheetahs endured a tough night with Masters scoring 11 points from five rides, whilst reserve Luke Killeen picked up 9+1.

The visitors were without Jonas Knudsen and Francis Gusts, with Gusts now being handed a 28-day ban by the Speedway Control Bureau having completed a meeting in Poland on Tuesday the day after being ruled out of the Wimborne Road meeting due to reported illness.

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