PIRATES WIN; THOMSEN HURT FOR GLADIATORS

POOLE edged out Plymouth 47-43 in a tight BSN Series opener in front of a bumper Bank Holiday crowd at Wimborne Road.

The meeting was subject to an extensive early delay after a crash involving former Pirates rider Tobias Thomsen, who was taken to hospital, and Richard Lawson who was able to continue.

There was not a single 5-1 in the entire 15 races with Poole taking the lead for the first time with a 4-2 in Heat 10, before recording the same result in Heat 11.

The final four races were shared with Lawson’s Heat 15 win over Danny King and Scott Nicholls securing the home victory.

Lawson recovered from his crash to score 10+1 with captain Zach Cook on 11, and recent signing Kyle Newman notched six points. King scored 13 from five rides for Plymouth and reserve Daniel Klima picked up 9+2 from seven.

Newman said: “Obviously it’s been some time since I have been on a bike regularly, so to be competitive is a good platform to build from.

“I felt pretty good, just I lack a bit of race fitness to be fair. It’s just tensing up a little in the dirt and you probably saw some sort of shapes, a bit of everything going on!

“But I think (on Saturday) I’ll just sort of relax and calm down. I’ll look to move forward.”

The teams meet again at the Coliseum tonight (Saturday) with the Pirates bringing in Jason Edwards to guest for Cook, who has a clashing commitment in Poland.

PLYMOUTH: Danny King, TBC, Joe Thompson, Ben Barker, Scott Nicholls, Daniel Klima, Tom Spencer.

POOLE: Richard Lawson, Kyle Newman, Jason Edwards, Fraser Bowes, Lewis Kerr, William Cairns, Cooper Rushen.

SCB Referee: Chris Gay

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Photo credit: LIAM COCKWELL