POOLE Pirates stormed to a resounding win on the road, dispatching of Birmingham Brummies 54-36 at Perry Barr.
Pirates took to the front from the off and never looked back, five riders contributing at least eight points in another solid team display to continue their push towards the top of the SGB Championship table.
The margin of victory also puts Neil Middleditch’s men in a commanding position to add the aggregate bonus point when the two sides meet again at Wimborne Road next week.
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Birmingham were without number one Nick Morris, who is serving a ban having failed to comply with the alcohol and doping testing procedure last week.
Pirates’ two-time double-winning captain Danny King was drafted in to guest.
Pirates got off to a perfect start with dominant back-to-back maximums, courtesy of Richard Lawson and Anders Rowe and then Adam Roynon and Kyle Newman.
It looked as though the visitors could make it three 5-1s in succession, only for Zach Cook to be warned for an unsatisfactory start. A re-run allowed fellow Aussie Troy Batchelor to split the Cook brothers.
Birmingham looked well set to slash Poole’s lead, on their way to a maximum in heat four. Justin Sedgmen burst to the front, where he was joined by Alfie Bowtell.
But the Brummies reserve was eventually reeled in by Steve Worrall, as Pirates limited the damage.
The 10-point advantage was restored after heat five. Lawson eased to victory, with Rowe and Batchelor swapping positions, the latter coming out on top.
Any hopes Birmingham had of a comeback were effectively dashed as early as heat six. Team boss Stewart Dickson opted for a tactical substitute, bringing Sedgmen in for Stefan Nielsen.
But the change did not pay dividends, Worrall claiming victory and Newman producing a brilliant ride to hold off the strong challenge of King to take second, Poole moving 25-11 ahead.
The misery continued for Brummies, on the wrong end of another 5-1, this time dished out by Ben and Zach Cook.
Bowtell and former Pirate Nielsen combined for Birmingham’s first maximum of the night in a re-run heat eight.
Bowtell was put straight back out in the following race by Dickson, but would not complete it, squeezed out by Worrall in a tight tussle, running out of room and going into the fence. Poole’s captain claimed victory in the re-run.
Nielsen impressed to win a thrilling heat 10, King slipping to the back behind the Cooks, Zach just failing to pip Nielsen on the line.
Sedgmen then produced a super pass up the inside of Rowe, but had to settle for second behind the imperious Lawson, Pirates extending their lead to 42-24 going into the interval.
The visitors then mathematically wrapped up the win on the night in style, Newman out in front and Ben Cook overtaking Batchelor to take second.
Lawson was beaten for the first time in a shared heat 13, King finally showing the type of form Pirates fans had feared.
He then combined with Batchelor as Brummies restored some pride with a 5-1 to end the night.
Pirates 54: Lawson 11, Rowe 5+1, B Cook 10+2, Z Cook 8+1, Worrall 9+1, Newman 8+2, Roynon 3.
Birmingham 36: King 7+1, Nielsen 5+1, Batchelor 10, Starke 1+1, Sedgmen 6, Hagon 3, Bowtell 4.
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