Poole Pirates v Plymouth Gladiators

Report

CHAMPIONSHIP KO Cup holders Poole built up an 18-point advantage from the first leg of their tie with Plymouth thanks to a 54-36 win at Wimborne Road.

The Gladiators held the gap at six points in the early stage but back-to-back 5-1s to the Pirates in Heats 8 and 9 saw them ease clear.

Ben Cook top-scored with 11+3 and was unbeaten by an opponent until Ben Barker (10+1) won Heat 15 for the visitors. Richard Lawson (11+1), Kyle Newman (10+1) and Zach Cook (10+1) were also in double figures for the Pirates.

Poole boss Neil Middleditch said: “At the end of the day we got the result we wanted. I told the boys on the track-walk to expect a different (Plymouth) team from the one that came up here the other week and so it proved, but the boys got going.

“They stepped on the gas, and we got a good healthy lead. Ten or twelve would have been good, but eighteen I am very happy with.”

CHAMPIONSHIP KO CUP QUARTER-FINAL, 1st leg
POOLE 54: Ben Cook 11+3, Richard Lawson 11+1, Zach Cook 10+1, Kyle Newman 10+1, Anders Rowe 5+1, Steve Worrall 4+1, Adam Roynon 3+1
PLYMOUTH 36: Ben Barker 10+1, Richie Worrall 8+1, Kyle Howarth 7, Paul Starke 5, Dan Gilkes 4+1, Jake Turner 2, Ben Trigger 0

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Photo credit: ANTHONY BURCHELL