PIRATES TOP THE STANDINGS

POOLE secured top spot in the Cab Direct Championship ahead of the play-offs with a 47-43 win at Edinburgh.

The Pirates led almost throughout the contest at Armadale but the gap was reduced to two points before Richard Lawson and Tom Brennan raced to a crucial 5-1 over Josh Pickering and Monarchs guest Troy Batchelor in Heat 13. Zach Cook then secured the victory by winning Heat 14.

Brennan top-scored for the Pirates with 12+1 and Lawson kicked off his Testimonial weekend with 11, whilst Pickering racked up 14+1 from six rides for the Monarchs.

Poole promoter Dan Ford said: “This is a really tough place to come, and we really didn’t want to leave having to come to Armadale with the question mark over top spot, and the boys delivered.

“It was a good performance, the meeting was kind of in our control throughout.

“We had a few little slip-ups but I felt we always had control of the meeting for the most part so I am really encouraged.”

Edinburgh boss Alex Harkess said: “We were completely out of it after the first third of the match but we did well to get back to just two down at Heat 13.

“With the top riders in that race I felt anything could happen. But the Pirates’ pair came out on top, we ran them close but not close enough.”

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Photo credit: JACK CUPIDO