PREVIEW: POOLE v REDCAR (KO CUP FINAL)

POOLE are hot favourites to retain the Championship Knockout Cup as they host Redcar in the second leg of the Final at Wimborne Road tonight (Wednesday).

The Pirates lead 48-41 from their away trip to Teesside last week and are on an 11-match unbeaten home run with their last three results on their own circuit all being 60-30 wins.

But promoter Danny Ford is urging against complacency as they bid to win their first trophy of the season.

He said: “We have raised our game and here we are now on the brink of what could be the first leg of the Treble, but we aren’t home and dry yet and I know that Redcar will be going out to try and stop our run and claim the trophy back that they held in 2019.

“If you run the rule down their side then there are several danger men that are likely to make life tough for us.

“Our boys need to get into the groove that they have been showing over recent weeks. If they do that then for sure Redcar will have to produce something very special indeed.”

Poole declare a full-strength side despite Danny King, Steve Worrall and Drew Kemp all suffering falls in the first leg, but Redcar are without skipper Charles Wright due to concussion after his crash at Belle Vue on Monday. Kye Thomson steps in to guest for the Bears.

POOLE: Danny King, Ben Cook, Steve Worrall, Drew Kemp, Richard Lawson, Zach Cook, Nathan Ablitt.
REDCAR: Erik Riss, Kasper Andersen, Kye Thomson, Jordan Jenkins, Lewis Kerr, Kyle Newman, Jason Edwards.