Plymouth Gladiators v Poole Pirates

Report

PLYMOUTH produced a dramatic finish to edge a 47-43 win over Southern rivals Poole in a Cab Direct Championship thriller at the Coliseum.

Weekend results mean the Pirates have secured their place in the play-offs, but they had to settle for the aggregate point only in Devon – despite being six points up with four races to go.

The Gladiators’ problems had increased with Lasse Fredriksen suffering a hand injury in a Heat 3 crash, but a sensational display from Ben Barker kept them in contention.

Racing just three days after suffering a dislocated shoulder in the reverse fixture at Wimborne Road, Barker piled up 18 points from seven rides – and after Alfie Botwell and Joe Thompson had brought the home side level with a 5-1 in Heat 14, Barker and Scott Nicholls brought the house down by defeating Richard Lawson and Tobias Thomsen in the decider.

Nicholls scored 10+1 despite a mechanical failure in Heat 11, whilst Lawson led the way for the Pirates with 11+1.

Poole reserve Paul Starke (4+3) said: “It was tough out there tonight, the last couple of heats went against us in the end but we battled all night.

“We got the aggregate point, so I guess we can look at that as being the bonus to take from the meeting.

“The delays didn’t really help, we were going very well and then we had the interruptions and that just disrupted things a bit, but it is what it is. We will go away from here and then regroup in time for another tough meeting on Wednesday.”

Poole are four points clear of Glasgow at the top but the Tigers have three matches in hand, whilst Plymouth are up to seventh with another home win.

PLYMOUTH 47: Ben Barker 18, Scott Nicholls 10+1, Joe Thompson 7+2, Alfie Bowtell 7, Kye Thomson 4+3, Tom Spencer 1, Lasse Fredriksen 0.
POOLE 43: Richard Lawson 11+1, Tobias Thomsen 6, Anders Rowe 6, Will Cairns 6, Zach Cook 5+2, Lewis Kerr 5, Paul Starke 4+3.
Poole win the aggregate point.

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Photo credit: CHANNIA FARR

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