West Cumbrian Richard Lawson helped champions Poole Pirates complete a 100% home record in the Cab Direct Championship.
But they were made to fight all the way by Plymouth at Wimborne Road last night.
The Pirates won 48-42 to move to the brink of play-off qualification, although the efforts of the Gladiators’ top two prevented them from ever going more than eight points up, setting things up well for Saturday’s return in Devon.
Plymouth suffered a blow when captain Ben Barker was withdrawn with a dislocated shoulder after a heavy Heat 7 crash, but guest No.1 Dan Thompson (13) and veteran Scott Nicholls (13+1) were both in excellent form.
Thompson was the only rider to defeat home No.1 Richard Lawson, who scored 14 points as the Pirates did enough for the win.
Lawson said: “They pushed us real hard. Scotty looked back to his best, and it hasn’t taken him long.
“I would have liked to have won by a bigger score, but we’ve got the points on the board and that’s what counts.”
