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Pirates earn convincing 20-point victory over Championship rivals Glasgow

Four heat advantages in the opening four races gave Poole early control, and they went on to only concede three heat advantages to the Tigers through the evening for a comfortable victory.

The hosts’ heat leader trio of Richard Lawson, Lewis Kerr and Zach Cook all collected good points returns with 11, 11+1 and 11+1 respectively.

Reserve pairing of Will Cairns and Cooper Rushen also contributed with 9 and 9+3.

Chris Harris provided the most stern resistance from the visitors with 15 points from his six rides.

Zach Cook (Image: Richard Crease)

The battle between the number ones was going to be a key one and it was Pirate Lawson who got the upper hand in the first heat.

He passed up the inside of Harris onto the back straight of the opening lap after Bomber had just edged ahead around the outside from the gate, and Lawson went to the victory, with Kyle Newman in third for an opening 4-2 home heat advantage.

Poole reserve pair of Cairns and Rushen, fresh off their GB appearances at the Speedway of Nations 2 last week, gated on a 5-1 and looked to be cruising to a maximum before Jack Smith hit the deck on bend two.

Smith was excluded from the re-run as Cairns led Rushen for a comfortable maximum as Pirates took early control at Wimborne Road.

Neil Middleditch and Cooper Rushen (Image: Richard Crease)

Kerr got ahead of Leon Flint at the start of heat three and the Pirates went to another 4-2 with Newman in third.

The early Pirates dominance continued in heat four.

With Cook out in front, Rushen did a good job at holding Kyle Howarth at bay for a 5-1 to Poole to extend the lead to 12 points after just four races.

Harris got his first heat victory of the night in heat five as he just got ahead of Kerr at the start, with Newman in third, for a first shared heat of the night.

Rushen made an excellent start in heat six and Lawson displayed some top team riding to keep Howarth behind, but the 16-year-old’s bike failed him midway through the heat and he was forced to pull off and Lawson took the win in a 3-3.

Will Cairns led Zach Cook for a 5-1 in heat seven. (Image: Richard Crease)

Some superb riding from Cairns in the opening bends of heat seven saw the 16-year-old recover from a slower start around the outside to soar into the lead, with Cook in second.

The Pirates pair held station for another maximum to extend their advantage to a commanding 16 points.

Rushen flew out of the gate and Kerr, riding in the rider replacement berth, went around his outside on the opening bend for the lead and that was how it stayed for back-to-back 5-1s.

Smith was replaced by Harris in heat nine in a tactical change as Glasgow needed to halt the Pirates momentum.

Harris gated well to take the lead and Howarth came through for second ahead of Kerr and Neman.

Lewis Kerr (Image: Richard Crease)

The Pirates number three passed his teammate on the penultimate lap but he wasn’t able to close the gap for a first heat advantage of the night for the visitors in the form of a 5-1.

Glasgow gated on a 5-1 in heat ten but Lawson went around the outside on the final bend to pass Luke Harrison, but, despite piling the pressure on Flint, he was unable to pass and the visitors earned another heat advantage with a 4-2.

Pirates responded with a 4-2 of their own.

Cook, Cairns and Harris had a good battle out of the gate, with the Pirates pair getting ahead of Bomber.

Richard Lawson (Image: Richard Crease)

Harris got around the outside of Cairns heading out of the final bend for second, and despite good pressure, the Poole reserve couldn’t force a move, but a heat advantage went the way of the hosts.

Rushen led Kerr for a 5-1 as the latter held off Flint for a maximum in the 12th.

Cook and Harris were neck-and-neck out of the gate in heat 13 but the Pirates skipper got in front out of bend two with Lawson in third.

The Rocketman sought to turn the screw on Bomber as Cook soared to victory out front, but the Poole number one couldn’t produce the overtake to seal a 5-1 and had to settle for a 4-2.

Lewis Kerr (Image: Richard Crease)

Harrison started well in heat 14 but with both Pirates hot on his heels.

Cairns was applying the pressure throughout but the Tigers rider took the chequered flag for a shared race.

Harris got out front at the start of heat 15 with Lawson in second after a closely contested opening bend.

The Rocketman backed Flint up into Cook but the Pirates skipper couldn’t make a move stick and a final heat advantage went the way of the Tigers.

That confirmed a convincing 20-point victory for Poole as they earned a big 55-35 win on the night, to give them a strong advantage to take into the away fixture for the aggregate point.

Poole Pirates: 1, Richard Lawson 11; 2, Fraser Bowes R/R; 3, Lewis Kerr 11+1; 4, Kyle Newman 4+2; 5, Zach Cook (c) 11+1; 6, William Cairns 9; 7, Cooper Rushen 9+3.

Glasgow Tigers: 1, Chris Harris (c) 15; 2, Sam Hagon 0; 3, Leon Flint 7; 4, Luke Harrison (Guest) 5; 5, Kyle Howarth 5+1; 6, Jack Smith (Guest) 1+1; 7, Freddy Hodder 2.

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