Middleditch hails 'points machine' Lawson as Poole Pirates win KO Cup

Team boss Neil Middleditch hailed the “phenomenal” ability of “points machine” Richard Lawson after guiding Poole Pirates to their first trophy of the 2025 season.

Lawson was unbeaten by a Redcar Bears rider across both legs of the Knockout Cup final, as Poole won 51-39 at the ECCO Arena to seal a 103-77 win on aggregate.

Number one Lawson (15) spearheaded the Pirates’ scoring, with skipper Zach Cook (12+2) once again proving a trump card for Middleditch and co-team boss Gary Havelock.

It is Poole’s first title of the campaign, with the SGB Championship and BSN Series crowns still up for grabs.

Middleditch said: “What a phenomenon Richard Lawson is. Unbeaten in this cup final and quite simply a points machine. He is just unbelievable.

“I've worked with some great riders in my time and, okay, I know we are in a lower league now, but he is phenomenal on the track and I have total respect for him."

?? 2025 MAXiCab KO Cup Winners pic.twitter.com/CI8E3nDy9o

— Poole Pirates Speedway (@poolespeedway) October 10, 2025

The silverware takes legendary team manager Middleditch on to 32 in total throughout his career with the club.

"It is quite impressive, isn't it? To have 32 trophies and a couple more to shoot at this season,” said Middleditch.

“It's amazing to be fair but this was a great result by the lads. They came here to do a job and they did the job and some.

“It's always nice to win trophies and I think you have got to feel a bit for Redcar. They've come close a couple of times now and Gavin (Parr, the Bears' team manager) has the same sort of passion for his club as I have for Poole.

“But at the end of the day I'm here to do a job and we got the job done.”

Pirates are next in action in the Championship play-off final, when they host Glasgow Tigers in the first leg at Wimborne Road on Wednesday (7.30pm).

(Picture: Taylor Lanning Photography)