PIRATES CLIMB THE TABLE

POOLE are up to second in the Cab Direct Championship after a hard-fought 50-40 win over Edinburgh at Wimborne Road.

The Monarchs put in a much-improved performance compared to their heavy defeat at Plymouth 24 hours earlier, and the Pirates’ victory came in a meeting which did not include a single 5-1 for either side.

Justin Sedgmen was outstanding for the visitors, winning his first four rides before being beaten by Richard Lawson in Heat 15.

The Australian totalled 14, although Monarchs No.1 Josh Pickering only collected an uncharacteristic three from five rides. Lawson top-scored for the Pirates with 12, and Tom Brennan added 10+1.

Lawson said: “We’ve got a ten-point lead to take there in the return and if you had offered me a ten-point lead at the interval I would have taken that as they made things hard for us.

“We went there with a nine-point lead in the Cup and we defended that, and we can ride Edinburgh well so hopefully we can bring something back.”

Edinburgh manager John Campbell said: “We didn’t let them get away, it was a much, much better performance than last night and we battled hard from top to bottom.

“It is incredible to believe Josh has scored so few as we knew he goes everywhere and gets double figures, but he spent the whole night working on his bike. On another night he gets 10 and we put them under much more pressure.”

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