Steve Shovlar

Dates are now confirmed. Glasgow on the 26th October, followed by the second leg on the 29th October at Wimborne Road. So the final is now officially known. Both teams scored victories in their home meetings. Neither team has met recently. Should be a thriller. Too far for most travelling fans though there are bound to be a sprinkle. Luckily Glasgow stream their meetings so expect a lot of Poole and neutral fans to buy the stream, myself included. I feel Pirates are favourites and fancy our chances, but an injury or a brilliant performance from an opposition rider can swing the pendulum the other way. Let the best team win.

Edinburgh riding the track tonight gives them super practice before tomorrow. Our boys could be rusty. Not making excuses just stating some facts. Looking forward to the stream.

One things for sure. ‘To cut a long story short” it won’t be “Gold” for Monarchs.That’s definitely “True”. Perhaps they can use “Chant Number One” for their local rivals.

No team at the top will lose 57-33 in a playoff semi final second leg. They might lose by 12-16 but they know the track and won’t let a lead like that be lost.

Game over. No chance Glasgow will let that lead slip.

22 point victory. Game over. No chance of Monarchs pulling that back. Terrible capitulation mid meeting.

We are used to it. Everyone against Pirates has been the norm for the last 20 years. Doesn’t affect us. Going to be a tough final but Pirates for the double!

Poole v Glasgow in playoff final. Lots of driving up and down the country for our boys.

So Poole go to Edinburgh on Saturday afternoon, then have to sort dates against Glasgow for the playoff final. At least we are racing against different clubs now. Better than the same club a few days apart.

Possibly next Sunday for second leg of final at Poole?

Nah. You make more of it than I do. I am not overly pessimistic, just more realistic than expecting a 5-1 or 4-2 every heat.

My post wasn’t a dig but a genuine question. I saw his crash the night before but expected him to be at the stadium as a mentor/cheerleader. Perhaps do a John Terry and slip on his Kevlar for the presentation. I didn’t think he was so injured as not be able to attend. Hope he gets well soon.

I missed the beginning today. Is he too injured to attend? I don’t know he hasn’t been mentioned.

Where’s Woffinden?

Never a fan of Zmarzlik but he has shown humility and is generous in defeat for the second time this year. Shows the utter class of the guy.

Magic unlucky but you make your own luck. And it ain’t over till the fat lady sings. World Champions Baby!

Bloody old crowd in Manchester.

Fantastic. World Champions! Wonderful moment for British Speedway!

Yyyyyeeeeesssss!!!

CUP DATES PENCILLED IN 17/10/21 The 2021 Knockout cup final first leg is scheduled to take place at Edinburgh on Saturday 23rd October with the return leg being staged at Wimborne Road the following Wednesday (27th). In announcing the dates Poole boss Dan Ford said, "the plan is for us to go there on the Saturday with a 2.30pm start, but we will be monitoring the weather forecast closely and if that worsens then we have agreed the contingency to bring the meeting forward to the Friday evening and be part of a double-header fixture, with the Monarchs hosting Glasgow in the rescheduled play-off semi-final." "Obviously that wouldn't be ideal and we understand that this uncertainty could affect some travel plans but we need to get the meeting on, especially as we also have the play-off final dates to slot in. Of course we would hope to have a good following behind us but for Poole fans unable to travel we understand that the Edinburgh will be streaming the meeting." "We will be putting tickets on sale for the second leg shortly and we hope to attract a large crowd as we seek to secure the knockout cup and the first part of the double."

I had other plans for yesterday Rob, so didn’t go. Wish I had gone as the other plans came to nowt. Luckily Andy put up clips of every heat so I could watch the action more or less as it happened. The good news is that whoever we play in the final streams their meetings live, so no 8 hour drive to jock land.

Whatever happens Poole are adamant for the second leg, as is their right.

Thought in heat 9 Douglas should have been excluded. He fell on his own on the second bend but ref said first bend bunching.

You should just ignore it.