Redcar Bears v Poole Pirates

DEFENDING champions Poole are top of the early Cab Direct Championship table thanks to an emphatic 51-39 away win at Redcar on Friday.

The Pirates were without two regular team members with Cooper Rushen missing due to a wrist injury alongside the already absent Fraser Bowes, but they still raced to a big victory on Teesside.

They trailed by two points with six races remaining but a stunning run of three 5-1s in four races put them in charge, and the performance was inspired by Lewis Kerr and teenager Will Cairns.

Kerr (14+3) was unbeaten until he dropped a point to Jake Allen (13+1) in the last race, whilst 16-year-old Cairns took seven rides and racked up 15+1 including three wins.

Pirates manager Gary Havelock said: “All the boys did well tonight and I am proud of each of them. I would have been happy with a 46-44, but to hit fifty – well, that was just sensational.

“Obviously, and justifiably, Will and Lewi will be making the headlines, but the contributions of the rest of the lads should not be overlooked.

“I have to admit though, for a sixteen-year-old, Will is something else. In all honesty, I have not seen a great deal of him live, but he really impressed me tonight.”

CAB DIRECT CHAMPIONSHIP
REDCAR 39: Jake Allen 13+1, Jody Scott 6+1, Jake Mulford 6+1, Nicolai Klindt 5, Jason Edwards 5, Ace Pijper 4, Jordan Jenkins 0
POOLE 51: Will Cairns 15+1, Lewis Kerr 14+3, Richard Lawson 9+1, Kyle Newman 7+2, Zach Cook 6+1, Harry Sadler 0, Fraser Bowes r/r
Poole win aggregate point

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Photo credit: COLIN POOLE