Pirates have it all to do to progress in Knockout Cup

Poole Pirates have it all do to do progress to the last four of the Championship Knockout Cup, after succumbing to a 49-41 first-leg defeat at Plymouth.

Number one Richard Lawson once again top scored for the visitors with 10 points from five rides, with Anders Rowe contributing eight.

Ben Barker led the charge for the Gladiators with 13 points, a haul which included two race wins from six rides.

It means Pirates have to overcome an eight-point deficit when the sides meet in the second leg at Wimborne Road on Wednesday.

Promoter Danny Ford said: "I don't really know why, but we just seemed to fall apart a bit between heats 11 and 14 and that allowed them (Plymouth) to get away from us.

“We were able to salvage something from heat 15 that certainly keeps the tie alive but we have got to be strong from start to finish on Wednesday.”

Pirates are the defending champions of the Knockout Cup, having won a domestic treble in 2024.