Rocketman Lawson gets Poole Pirates' season off to blistering start

Richard Lawson led from the front as Poole Pirates got their BSN Series title defence off to a blistering start at a packed Wimborne Road.

In front of a bumper crowd on Good Friday, Lawson recorded a 15-point maximum to help the hosts seal a resounding 61-29 victory over Oxford Cheetahs.

There were also impressive performances from Zach Cook (11+1) and reserve Sam Hagon (10+1) as the Dorset club cruised past the Cheetahs in their season opener.

Lawson said: "It was a dream start. I still can't quite believe it. Just everything went - well apart from my start in heat one -  kind of to plan.

“That was true for all the boys. We all just kind of clicked and you can't ask for much more.

“I didn't expect that score against Oxford. I had them tipped as one of the top teams so we definitely laid down a marker.

“The track was well prepared. It's not massively different to last year and I thought it rode really well.

“The track guys here do a real good job and they listen to what we want."

Debutants Tobias Thomsen (5+1), Tom Brennan (9+1) and Max Perry (2+1) were also in the points for the new-look Pirates.

Poole 61: Lawson 15, Thomsen 5+1, Brennan 9+1, Z Cook 13+2, B Cook 7+1, Hagon 10+1, Perry 2+1.

Oxford 29: Masters 6+1, Atkins 0, Heeps 3, Jenkins 3, Nicholls 9, Killeen 8, Boughen 0.

(Picture: Tony Hartmann)