Berwick Bandits v Poole Pirates

Report

POOLE fought back from an early ten-point deficit to kick off their Cab Direct Championship campaign with an away win at Berwick.

The Pirates took a terrific contest 46-44 with the victory coming down to a battle for second place in Heat 15 as visiting No.1 Richard Lawson got the better of home skipper Rory Schlein.

The result was achieved despite the Pirates going down to six riders as Zach Cook withdrew with hip pain after a crash in his first ride.

Lawson again excelled at Shielfield Park with 14+1 from six rides and reserve Sam Hagon notched a crucial 11+1, with Tom Brennan on 10. Bandits guest Josh Pickering scored 12+1.

Said Lawson: “It was a bad start from very much all of us, but we pulled through. We lost Zach early and it was backs against the wall time and we came through.

“It’s fantastic to get off with a good opening league win. We all said that this would be a really difficult meeting. They are a really good side and especially here at their track, so we sent out a good marker there.

“Dan (Ford) said it would be good to end the weekend still in the cup and with league points on the table, so job done.”

CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP
BERWICK 44: Josh Pickering 12+1, Bastian Borke 8+3, Rory Schlein 7+1, Jye Etheridge 7, Danyon Hume 6, Drew Kemp 2+1, Freddy Hodder 2.
POOLE 46: Richard Lawson 14+1, Sam Hagon 11+1, Tom Brennan 10, Ben Cook 6+2, Tobias Thomsen 4, Max Perry 1, Zach Cook 0.

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Photo credit: TAZ McDOUGALL