West Cumbrian star Richard Lawson was the hero for Poole last night – after his team had been excluded from heat 15.
The former Workington Comets rider secured a 45-45 draw for the Pirates by winning the rerun after team-mate Danny King had been disqualified for a first-bend fall.
Plymouth Gladiators were ten points up at the halfway stage but Michael Palm Toft, who had won his first two rides, was ruled out of the meeting after a clash with Lawson.
Lawson scored 11+1 for the hosts with reserve Drew Kemp and King both on 10 – whilst another former Workington riders Kyle Howarth proving a superb guest for the visitors with 15+2.
Lawson said: “After Danny fell first time he came up to me and said, ‘go on Rich, do it for me please,’ and I thought, ‘right, let’s do it!
“Hearing the fans that were right behind me, I knew I had to get out there and do it. Then I shed my steel shoe early on and I am one of those riders who likes to use my steel shoe, some riders out there don’t mind leg trailing, but it’s not my style.
“So I just threw myself into it on the last couple of laps on turns three and four, hung in there and got the job done.”
Richard’s father, ex-Workington and Glasgow star Steve is heavily involved in the Comets revival at Northside.
Although looking for National Development League speedway next season the Comets have been alerted they might be asked to step to the Championship because of problems at other clubs.
That message was enforced following the decision by Newcastle owner Rob Grant to close the Diamonds with immediate effect.
