West Cumbrian Richard Lawson has led Poole into the BSN Series semi-finals after a 52-37 win over Oxford when he scored a 15-point maximum.
The Pirates’ No.1 swept to five wins out of five, including a spectacular effort from the back in Heat 10 where he overtook both Mitch McDiarmid and Anders Rowe.
That was the second of a run of four 5-1s in six races which took the match away from the Cheetahs, who also lost the aggregate point to end their group campaign on four points.
Lewis Kerr scored 10+1 for the Pirates with reserves Cooper Rushen and Will Cairns winning two races apiece, whilst Sam Masters top scored for the Cheetahs with 9+2.
Lawson said: “It was nice for the team to bounce back after our last performance up at Oxford when, like I said before, we didn’t really put up a show.
“But we did what we had to do this time and we are through to the next stage, and that was the goal.”
Oxford manager Peter Schroeck said: “We battled on all night but it was a difficult evening with one or two things.
“Fair play to Poole, they do what we do at home, and it’s difficult. I think we gave them a good run for their money.”
Meanwhile Berwick Bandits have confirmed impressive newcomer Reid Battye faces around six weeks on the sidelines after his crash at Shielfield Park last Saturday.
Battye was involved in a high-speed tangle with Workington’s Niklas Holm Jakobsen and was taken to hospital where a fractured vertebra was diagnosed.
The Bandits are heading into an important weekend of BSN Series action and have booked two of their former riders to stand in, with Dayle Wood guesting at Edinburgh on Friday whilst Sam Hagon takes over for Saturday’s home return fixture.
Manager Stewart Dickson said: “Losing Reid is a real blow because big points from reserve make all the difference in these type of situations.
“But that’s speedway, we have to get on with it and have booked two good guests this weekend.”
Workington Comets are waiting for news on Jakobsen who had gone back to Denmark after the crash for assessment of his injuries.
