Bleeds Pirate Blue

@Sidney the robin You're making a mountain out of a mole hill. "Steve Worrall, top GP star and world number one, having knocked Doyle off his mantle, was sorely missed. He would have beat Brady no problem and lapped a couple of the other Poole lads." If you choose to interpret that comment as anything more than a tongue in cheek jibe, then... well, I'm not sure what to say!? Please feel free to quote these disrespectful posts as evidence.

My perspective as a Poole fan was that Belle Vue were only in the match through the first eight races because of Woryna avoidance of a Starke lock-up in Heat 1, and then the EF for Szczepaniak when leading in Heat 2. That gifted Belle Vue the early lead in the contest. The middle portion of the match was all about gating and it was pretty even between the two sides, with Belle Vue looking sharper away from the tapes. Once the track dried out a bit, Poole took control and pulled away. From Heat 9 onwards Poole outscored Belle Vue 28-14. You could also clearly see Sundstrom and Woryna improve as the night went on as they got dialled in to better racing lines. I understand that Cook and a healthy Worrall would likely have put up more of a fight, but as a spectator there on the night, Poole were good value for their win in tricky conditions.

So to be clear, Poole fans just have to take all the stick we get from the usual suspects and the latest bunch that have a bee in their bonnet? They can claim that Matt Ford is ruining/killing British Speedway, Poole are the most dishonourable bunch of cheats going, Poole are sore losers (showers and fireworks), blah blah blah, yet Steve posts a CLEARLY tongue in cheek comment about the loss of Steve Worrall and you go on the attack... Just to clarify, people can make libellous statements about the Poole Pirates, but Pirates supporters shouldn't stick up for ourselves, defend the team we support and make light-hearted jibes in return. Seems fair and even-handed!! P.S. #NeverForget #Worrall16

No need for another match report/rider from me, read what @Steve Shovlar said for a Poole perspective, and @Phil The Ace for a Belle Vue one. Track did improve as it dried out, and racing got a little better. Was nice to see some speedway finally. Roll on the rest of the season.

What? Stating the truth? It is unlikely that Belle Vue will have a better chance to win at Wimborne Road this year due to the weather, track conditions, lack of match fitness of the Poole team etc...

First meeting on a track after extensive off season work and weeks of rain. If you were expecting a thriller tonight that was probably a bit optimistic!!

A half decent race then. Took until heat 9! Should be tight all the way as it's gate and go tonight.

Kildermand rode a very hard 1st bend that time. Much better than his first outing. Hoping for some track evolution as meeting isn't the most exciting.

Looks hard to pass and harder to ride out wide tonight. It does look smooth though. Processional so far. Poole need to wake the f up

Poole getting slaughtered out the starts. Ruh Oh! Kildermand looked uninterested

Ahh, that is bad news about Cookie for the neutrals & Belle Vue fans. I'd fancy us to win by 18-20 now.

Sure, but I need to go and speak with SouthernAce about the spreadsheet for the Poole Fantasy League first. Once I've dealt with that, I'll be in Champs.

Not everyone can afford a chauffeur, so not being able to drink there shouldn't be a problem!

Yeah - that's a good shout - that chippy is okay - eaten there before. There is a curry house on the corner there too... but might be cutting it tight on time

@ouch No, you need cash to pay to get in, and the food quality inside the stadium is not the greatest. I choose to have the chicken strips from the 'glass stand' when I have to eat at Wimborne Road, but they are an extortionate price. I'd recommend eating elsewhere if you can.

I'd pick Charlie Wright over Josh Auty 99 times out of 100, but each to their own !!

@Gavan Ever heard the phrase - one swallow doesn't make a summer? I am not diminishing the value of course form etc, but your application of it. Ever heard of sample size? We may disagree (often), but you are entitled to your opinion. I don't begrudge you that. However, you always portray your opinion as 100% correct, without fault. Everything is black and white. I've seen you try, on occasion, to have a debate, but 9/10 you dig in your heels and start shouting and ranting. For that reason I think you're a troll, or perhaps the world's most blinkered, stubborn person. Feel free to prove me wrong by conducting yourself like a positively contributing member of this speedway community. Most of us on here are fans of speedway and we can all see the sport is in the rubbish. Least we can do is be somewhat nice to each other and discuss the sport between ourselves in a civil manner.

They thumped us several times last year!?! Including at Wimborne Road! Now we have dispelled the troll, we can get back to proper Poole v Belle Vue chat! I do see Poole winning handily on Wednesday, 53-37. UP THE PIRATES!

Slight exaggeration. Even taking the Gavan route and basing Worrall's average on his 16-pt score only, remove the tactical points, and bonus points (thanks SS), his one-match CMA, at the peak of his powers at Poole, would be 8.66. Pretty sure there are multiple riders in the league who averaged similar, so "utterly irreplaceable" is pure hyperbole.

Sorry Sidney, we only operate on FACTS and STATS, as dictated by Gavan. There is no room for opinion, or conjecture.

Like all trolls, you're trying to change the subject once your flimsy 'argument' has been taken apart. Get back in your cave! #NeverForget #Worrall16

He also scored 4+1 last season at Poole... did you miss that one?

@Steve Shovlar FWIW, I made his CMA based on the eight listed matches, 6.92 (counting his tac-sub win as a straight 3pts). 64 total points from 37 rides. If the tac sub does count as a 6, it's 7.24

I literally just did the exact same thing Steve!!! You did miss (there was a page 2!): 05/04/17 - Steve Worrall 3 1* 3 1* = 8+2 (4) But your point remains about how much the team will miss him... The answer is, he is far from a certainty for double-figure at Wimborne Road.

Thanks @ouch