PIRATES MAINTAIN MOMENTUM

POOLE completed an unbeaten run in Group A of the Cab Direct Championship play-offs with a 54-36 win at Edinburgh.

The Pirates again displayed a liking for Armadale with Kyle Newman again in great form at reserve with 14+3, whilst Steve Worrall (12), Richard Lawson (11+2) and Zach Cook (11) joined him in double figures.

The result was made more empathic by the visitors securing 5-1s in each of the last three races.

Josh Pickering scored 15 for the Monarchs as a tough season comes to an end, whilst Poole await news of their Grand Final opponents, with Group B to be resolved between Glasgow and Oxford next Tuesday.

Pickering then confirmed to the home supporters that he will be moving on in 2024 after seven seasons at Armadale.

Newman said: “It was a great night for me, good night for the boys, we got the win we came for, a debut win for our stand-in team manager (Stephen Allen) so good all round and sets us up for the Finals.

“I know Ben (Cook) had a few mechanical problems but hey, it’s best to get them out the way in a meeting like this and not in the Finals.”

Edinburgh boss Alex Harkess said: “Up until Heat 12 we were making a real fight of it. The lads were really trying hard and there was some great racing.

“If we had had a No.1 scoring double figures it could have been a much closer match, that was the problem we had.”

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Photo credit: JACK CUPIDO