Cook has belief in Pirates response after narrow defeat at Edinburgh

Skipper Zach Cook believes Poole Pirates are still well placed, despite suffering a 46-44 defeat to Edinburgh in the first leg of their BSN Series semi-final.

Cook top scored for Poole with 11+1, as they suffered a narrow defeat on the road at Armadale.

Pirates had gone into the final heat of the contest in Scotland with a two-point advantage, but a 5-1 from Monarchs pair Justin Sedgmen and Kye Thomson insured they will go to Wimborne Road with a slender advantage.

Cook said: “We can't be upset with the final result. They are a strong team up here and it was a bit nip and tuck early on and they pulled back, what was it, a six-point lead?

“I think being two points down going into the second leg is not a bad position. The gates here were pretty crucial.

“There wasn't much off gate three there and we ended up with it in the last race and, like I said, these boys are good here. Once they got in front it was hard to pin them back.

“Overall, I enjoyed the meeting personally. It is a good track once you are out in front, it is just difficult to do anything if you are behind. So you have just got to sit and wait. I was happy with my own performance and I think throughout the whole team everyone did well.”

Poole are set to host Edinburgh in the second leg on Wednesday, June 10 (7.30pm).

“If we end up throwing away just a two-point deficit then I think something will have gone very wrong, especially given our previous home form,” said Cook.

“But that doesn't mean we can take our eye off the ball. We just need to go in as we have been all season and aim for that final.”

The winners of the tie will take on either Redcar or Berwick in the final of the competition.

(Picture: Taylor Lanning Photography)