Cairns steps up as Pirates progress to Knockout Cup final

Teenager Will Cairns admitted he was “over the moon” to help Poole Pirates progress to the Knockout Cup final, after a busy night in Glasgow.

When Lewis Kerr injured his hip in his first heat and was unable to continue, Cairns took seven rides from reserve and racked up eight paid 11 to help Poole through their second leg against the Tigers.

Gary Havelock’s side lost 49-41 on the night in Scotland, but did enough to progress with a 93-87 aggregate advantage.

Cairns was part of a 3-3 alongside Zach Cook in heat 14 to seal progress for Poole with one race remaining.

He told the club website: "I'm over the moon, Toby (Tobias Thomsen) and Dan Ford both said to me that we need a 3-3 from the heat and I told myself that I was going to be part of it.

“Zach cleared off but I was determined to hold on. It has been a bit of an up and down season for me and Havvy (Gary Havelock) said to me once we knew Lewi would be out, that this was game time now and it was likely I would have seven rides.

“People say to me that I am only 16 but my answer to that is I might only be 16 but I am a professional athlete, so that means I can't be acting like a 16-year-old. I have a job to do and am determined to do as good as I can."

Cook (11) led the charge for Pirates, who brought in Jonas Jeppesen (9) as a guest to cover for the injured Richard Lawson. 

The aggregate victory over the Tigers means Pirates are now in two cup finals to end their campaign, having also progressed in the BSN Series. They will face either Oxford or Redcar in the Knockout Cup final.

A domestic treble is also still on for Poole, having reached the play-offs in the SGB Championship.