Steve Shovlar

Basso is not ill. He was injured in Denmark. We really missed him last night as track conditions would have suited him perfectly. Probably a Pirates win should he have ridden.

Danny Ford told me last night at Leicester that Basso was ruled out after crashing in Denmark and hurting his ribs.

Leicester have an 8 point lead.

Just got back to Poole at 11.30 so we’ll done for getting the meeting on in good time. better than average meeting at Leicester with some passing, albeit 6 inches from the fence, or if you are Andersen up the inside. A good crowd and plenty of Poole fans made the trip. Well done to Ben Cook for a very good score on his first ever visit. Very impressive. As usual Pirates flop at the end of away meetings and this time have given up an 8 point lead. After being on the wrong end of a 5-1 in heat 13 when in 1 and 3, heat 15 saw Poole chose 1 and 3 again against the same two Leicester riders! Why on Earth give them the same gates and almost the same result as 2 heats earlier? Made no sense to me and 2 and 4 were the better gates. Worral off 2 and King off 4 would have been better. Did the riders want 1 and 3? So nicely poised. 8 points to make up and no tacs allowed. Think it’s advantage Poole in a couple of weeks time.

Unlike fans of other clubs who in the past celebrated finishing top as winning the league title, Pirates fans understand that finishing top has no more kudos than being able to choose the opposition in a semi final.

LEICESTER - Nick Morris, Dan Thompson, Ryan Douglas , Kyle Howarth, Hans Andersen, Joe Thompson, Zaine Kennedy - Team manager Stewart Dickson POOLE - Charles Wright (Guest), Ben Basso, Steve Worrall, Ben Cook, Danny King, Dillon Ruml (Guest), Danyon Hume - Team manager Neil Middleditch

What an utter disgrace. Top riders can’t get around it. Shoot the trackman and ban the club from international meetings.

Make the track as slick and best as possible. Make it so passing is almost impossible. That’ll make sure no bugger comes to watch!

Clearly we are a lot weaker than our last visit when we won. Personally not too fussed about the cup but will go along to cheer the boys. 51-39.

This is going to be an absolute one sided farce of a meeting.

Usual meeting at the toy track. For once Wolves faced a team who outbattled them. Only in the last 5 races was there anything to watch.

Fully deserved by Dads Army. Wolves fans must be bitterly disappointed in that performance.

Never seen the thumbs up using the middle finger.

Makes no difference. Real Pirates speedway legend. Poole Hall of famer. Got a massive welcome home last week. Fully deserved. Hero.

He is a speedway legend and is getting a farewell at Poole next month. Looking forward to it.

Panthers should go for a tac 2-4.

Masters not happy there giving the finger. Outwitted.

Final is going to be desperately one sided, especially if Greg Laguta is out.

twit of an idiot wrecked the start of that heat by pressing wrong button to lose feed.

Another really nasty crash in two days. This time for Laguta. Clipped Wozniak’s back wheel and headfirst into fence. Awful.

Well done Artem Laguta! Brilliant.

That looked deadly as Freddie had no control hanging on the front of his bike. Relieved they are both up.

Horrendous crash. Thoughts with Freddie.

Awful track conditions, little to no passing. Normal meeting.

OK it would take a monumental effort from Redcar to win at Poole, who haven’t lost at home this season. Poole are a better and stronger team than Redcar. Whilst there is a chance, it’s a slim one and Poole would be well up for it if it means the difference between finishing top or not. I will be the first to congratulate Redcar if they win at Wimborne Road. But even though we are now weaker, we still have enough through the rest of the team. It’s not arrogance. It’s belief in the team.