Pirates record commanding first-leg win in BSN Series semi-final

Poole Pirates put one foot in the final of the BSN Series after recording a commanding 58-32 victory over Oxford Cheetahs at Wimborne Road.

Richard Lawson again delivered a 15-point maximum from number one for the hosts, while Tobias Thomsen (9+3), Anders Rowe (9) and Zach Cook (8+1) all bolstered the points tally.

It means Poole head into the second leg, which is yet to be arranged, with a 26-point lead. Aussie ace Sam Masters (11) top scored for Oxford, someone who Lawson was full of respect for.

The Pirates rider said: “It's tough, especially when you meet Sam Masters. I've said it before, I believe he is one of the best number ones in the league and to come up against him three times is tough.

“Maybe I got a bit lucky in heat 15 as in the first attempt he seemed to have me, but then it was called back and we got it done when it counted.

“I was initially surprised when I was told we had gates one and three for heat 15 and I thought 'oh happy days'.

“But when I got to gate one, the ruts were just ruined and I realised why he had picked gate two.

“In the first start of it I tried to get every inch of gate one but made a bit of a mistake. I moved a bit closer in the re-run and I don't think he liked that too much and it probably unsettled him a bit."

The result means Pirates enhanced their chances of sealing another domestic treble this season.

They are currently top of the SGB Championship heading into the play-offs, will meet Glasgow in the last four of the Knockout Cup before also taking on the Cheetahs in leg two of the BSN Series.

(Picture: Taylor Lanning Photography)