Plymouth Gladiators v Poole Pirates

POOLE will take a six-point lead into the second leg of their KO Cup quarter-final with Plymouth at Wimborne Road on Wednesday.

The Pirates won the first leg in Devon 48-42 with former Gladiators rider Richard Lawson marking his debut with a 13+2 paid maximum from five rides.

Lawson was backed up by fellow heat-leader Steve Worrall who scored 13, with the duo combining for a Heat 15 5-1 to settle a tight encounter in the visitors’ favour.

There was a sensational performance by Plymouth reserve Dan Gilkes, who racked up 16 points including wins over Worrall and Poole skipper Danny King in Heats 5 and 9 respectively and then defeated both Pirates stars when he was called into Heat 13.

POOLE: Steve Worrall, Zach Cook, Richard Lawson, Ben Cook, Danny King, Drew Kemp, Nathan Ablitt.

PLYMOUTH: Edward Kennett, Ben Barker, Alfie Bowtell, Michael Palm Toft, Hans Andersen, Dan Gilkes, Henry Atkins.