PREVIEW: POOLE v EDINBURGH (CHAMP PLAY-OFF S/F)

CAB Direct Championship holders Poole kick off their play-off campaign for 2026 when they host Edinburgh in the first leg of their semi-final tonight (Wednesday).

The Pirates have topped the table and now face the fourth-placed Monarchs over two legs with the return at Armadale on Friday.

It’s a third visit of the season to Wimborne Road for Edinburgh, who were thrashed 60-30 in the BSN Series semi-finals in June, but improved on their league visit in August which resulted in a 52-38 home win.

Both sides are at full strength and Pirates co-promoter Dan Ford says he believes his team can step up from their displays in the league stage of the campaign.

He said: “We are looking at the play-offs here. Every team that reaches them has to be respected and because it is a play-off you tend to get teams raising their game, but likewise we will be out to do exactly the same.

“Edinburgh know what is like to be knocked out in the semi-finals and they will be keen to try an avoid that pain after their close aggregate defeat by Glasgow last year.

“We might have topped the league but we’ve still got work to do to win the title. I believe there is still more in us and if, as a group the lads can all click together then there is a good chance that we will be in a strong position when we travel to Edinburgh.

“What we will need is good, loud vocal support from our loyal and faithful fans on Wednesday, hopefully as a rehearsal for two more big meetings to follow at Wimborne Road.”

POOLE: Richard Lawson, Will Cairns, Lewis Kerr, Cooper Rushen, Zach Cook, Slater Lightcap, Kyle Newman.

EDINBURGH: Kye Thomson, Jonatan Grahn, Justin Sedgmen, Paco Castagna, Dan Thompson, Mitchell Cluff, Jordy Loftus.

SCB Referee: Chris Gay

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