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Last Updated: Nov 28th, 2010 - 10:22:29 |
Poole Castle Cover Pirates left it late to finally see off defending league champions Wolverhampton to leave themselves needing just a point on Monday night when the two sides meet again to guarantee themselves top spot in the league, ahead of the title deciding play-offs.
Celebrating his Rider of the Night award Poole skipper Dave Watt quipped "this is the second time in two weeks when we have let the opposition get near to 40 points, its about time we started upping our game a bit. I started badly tonight and had to make some changes and I wasn't the only one, but we battled away and saw it come good in the end"
Watt was on the wrong end of a 5-1 in his opening heat 4 ride, that enabled Wolverhampton to counter the two previous heat advantages that the Pirates had enjoyed, but after making those changes the skipper was hugely instrumental in the Pirates' recovery as he dropped just one more point over the course of his next four rides, that coming in heat 15 by which time the league points were already safely in the locker.
But Poole were under threat by a determined Wolverhampton side and the well-attended meeting was one to savour with top class speedway littered through the heats.
With little to chose between the two sides the Pirates will reflect on their all-important heat 10 maximum return over masterminded by the fast-away Darcy Ward and the determination of Chris Holder to pass and hold off Tai Woffinden. Ironically that was the Pirates third maximum heat score of the night, all three coming at the expense of Woffinden. But it gave the Pirates an 8 point cushion that Watt successfully defended by lowering Lindgren's colours for the first time and whilst Leon Madsen came close to passing Ty Proctor his failure to do so played into Poole's hands as it delayed the tactical use which the unbeaten Nicolai Klindt would surely have taken had he had the opportunity.
It may have been a fruitless chance though as Pedersen and Doyle combined for a 5-1 of their own, Doyle finding some unbelievable drive to power by Klindt with consumate ease. That did signify the use of the double points option in heat 13 with Lindgren nominated. But entering the first turn squeezed out, Lindgren lost control, brought down Holder and Klindt too, as Watt escaped the debris of bikes and riders as he was out in front. Thankfully all three riders were able to walk back to the pits but Klindt was struggling and was forced to withdraw from the re-run.
That re-start again saw elbows locking together, but Holder pulled clear to join Watt, yet again clear of any danger, for a match winning 5-1.
With faint hopes of trying to arrest the Pirates claim to top spot the Wolves attempted to pull some big points out in heat 14, using Woffinden on double points and whilst the GB international was able to get the better of Mroczka eventually he had no answer to the impressive Leon Madsen as Poole guaranteed themselves the full quota of league points.
Australians Jason Doyle, Chris Holder and Darcy Ward will all ride at Somerset on Friday as the Rebels celebrate with the re-staging of their 10th Anniversary Meeting, and Leon Madsen has a big date in Vojens on Saturday as he seeks a place in next year's Grand Prix through the GP Challenge. The Pirates will then re-group on Monday for the league return at Wolverhampton where a 6-point or less defeat would guarantee them the points they need to cement that top spot.
Poole 53 - D.Watt 12 (1,3,3,3,2); B.Pedersen 9+1 (3,1',2,3,0); C.Holder 8+2 (2,2,2',2'); L.,Madsen 8+1 (3,2',0,3); A.Mroczka 6+2 ( 2',2,1',1); D.Ward 6+1 (R,1',2,3); J.Doyle 4+2 (1,FD,1',2' )
Wolverhampton 39 - F.Lindgren 12, N.Klindt 10, T.Woffinden 8, T.Proctor 5+1, L.Lindgren 4+1, M.Wethers 0
League points awarded: Poole 3 Wolverhampton 0
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