POOLE Pirates bounced back from their first home defeat in more than two years with an emphatic victory over Workington Comets.

The first leg of the BSN Series semi-final saw Pirates defeat Comets 59-31, taking a 28 point lead into the second leg, which will be in Cumbria a week on Saturday.

Pirates were coming into the fixture off the back of their first home defeat at Wimborne Road since 2022, at the hands of Oxford last week, with promoter Danny Ford calling on the side to bounce back. 

But this fixture saw Pirates dominate, with four riders going into their final rides unbeaten by an opponent.

The semi-final began evenly, with both sides taking three points apiece from the first two heats.

(Image: Richard Crease)

But from heat three, Pirates built a convincing lead, winning 5-1, 4-2 and 5-1 in heats three, four and five respectively.

By the conclusion of heat nine, the home side led 35-19, and continued to build their lead, taking the win on each heat aside from heat 15, which was taken by Comets’ Craig Cook, although Pirates shared the spoils at three points apiece.

Zach Cook was the sole rider to preserve his maximum, adding the heat 14 outright win to go with his three paid wins from heats when riding with his brother, Ben.

Reflecting on his first maximum for the south coast side, Zach Cook said: “This was in contrast to last week.

“It was an up and down night but, no, I was making some good starts, I wasn't too good early on but no, a good night and solid team performance and real good to bounce back.”

Zach Cook (L) (Image: Richard Crease)

Zach hit the deck in a crash in heat five between him and Comets’ reserve Sam McGurk, adding: “It was a bit of a funny one that, but it is what it is.

“I got back up and got the paid win anyway so it doesn't really matter now.”

Brother Ben Cook’s maximum aspirations were over on the starting line in heat 12, but Pirates managed to protect their lead as Tobias Thomsen pulled off a super move on Troy Batchelor to share the heat.

Heat 13 saw Richard Lawson take the win, after seeing Ben Cook’s efforts in heat nine.

Lawson said: “Having seen Ben take it tight on turn four in one heat I thought that was the line to try and it worked superbly for me in heat 13 when I went under Craig Cook and thankfully Tom (Brennan) followed me through.”

(Image: Richard Crease)

Craig Cook’s winning ride in heat 15 denied Lawson and Brennan their bumps, but his win was not enough to dent the Pirates’ lead heading into the second leg of the semi-final.

POOLE 59: Tom Brennan: 13+1 (3,3,3,2',2); Richard Lawson: 13+1 (3,3,3,3,1'); Zach Cook: 9+3 (2',2',2',3); Tobias Thomsen: 9+1 (2,1,1,3,2'); Ben Cook: 9 (3,3,3,R); Ben Trigger: 3+1 (1',1,1,RS); Sam Hagon: 3+1 (0,2',0,1).

WORKINGTON 31: Paul Starke: 7+1 (3,0,0,3,1',0); Jason Edwards: 6+2 (1',1,2',2); Antti Vuolas: 6 (0,2,2,2,0); Craig Cook: 6 (2,N2,R,1,3); Troy Batchelor: 4 (2,1,1,0); Drew Kemp: 2 (1,XD,0,1); Sam McGurk: 0 (0,0,RS,0,RS).