PIRATES THROUGH AFTER MONARCHS’ FAST START

POOLE are through to the Cab Direct KO Cup semi-finals after surviving an early scare at Edinburgh on Friday.

The Pirates saw eight of their nine-point advantage from the first leg wiped out in the space of the first four races at Armadale, but they fought back into the contest and levelled the scores on the night in Heat 10.

The next four races were shared as the visitors confirmed progression, before Josh Pickering and Justin Sedgmen finished off with a 5-1 for the Monarchs giving them a 47-43 win on the night.

Pickering top-scored for Edinburgh with 13 and Sedgmen added 10+1, whilst Tom Brennan (11) and Ben Cook (10+1) led the way for Poole.

Pirates assistant boss Gary Havelock said: “It always seemed to be under control. I know we didn’t get off to the best of starts but that can happen up here. It is a specialist track, really technical, and a few of our guys hadn’t been here much, and it took them a couple of races to really get going.

“But people like Toby (Tobias Thomsen) were fabulous. To crash in his first ride and then run eight from his next three on a track that he hates, it was a good effort.

“Ben doesn’t like this track and he went and stuck some very good times in there, and it just kept us in it.”

Pickering said: “We’ve beaten a good team Poole at home, and that’s something we certainly didn’t do last year. They are a great side, it would have been nice to win on aggregate but we couldn’t manage that.

“We certainly want to win all our home matches this year. I’m happy that the boys are putting the work in, and they will continue to get better.”

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Photo credit: JACK CUPIDO