POOLE Pirates reached their first final of the season with a convincing aggregate victory over Workington Comets.

Holding a 28-point lead coming into the second leg of the BSN Series semi final after their emphatic win at Wimborne Road, Pirates and Comets ended level pegging at 45 apiece in Workington.

Poole continued their defence of the title they won last season, but narrowly missed out on inflicting a fourth straight defeat on Workington, and a fourth win on the bounce.

The hosts took the first heat 4-2 but Pirates immediately hit back with a 5-1 win in the second, thanks to Tobias Thomsen and Ben Trigger.

Workington levelled the tie in the third, winning 4-2 again, and took the lead with another 4-2 win in the fourth.

After a 3-3 heat in the fifth, Poole evened things up in the sixth, Tom Brennan winning, before Ben and Zach Cook took a 1-2 to secure the 5-1 victory in the seventh and opening out a Pirates lead.

Another 3-3 heat followed in the eighth, before Brennan won again to give Pirates the 4-2 win in the ninth, opening out a six-point gap to their hosts.

This meant the tie was over and Poole were guaranteed their place in the final, but the home side refused to lay down and be beaten on the night.

Workington and Pirates traded 4-2 wins in the tenth, during which Ben Cook dropped his chain, and 11th, with Richard Lawson winning the latter heat.

Ben Cook took the 12th as the sides tied 3-3, with Pirates looking likely to protect their lead.

But a shed chain from Lawson while he was leading heat 13 saw Troy Batchelor take the heat and give a 4-2 win to the hosts.

A 3-3 tie in the 14th meant Workington would need to win the last 5-1 to tie the leg, and they did just that.

Lawson and Brennan looked have their noses in front, but Batchelor and Antti Vuolas sensationally came through to take the points for Workington, levelling the meeting at 45-45.

Youngster Sam Hagon ended his points drought after nine straight last places to finish with a well-earned paid five score from his number two position.

Speaking afterwards, Hagon said: “It was a lot better of a day for me and it was nice at last to get some points on the board and hopefully things will get that little bit better for me and move in the opposite direction as it has just been going down for me lately.

“Unfortunately, I guess, that is part of learning.

“You go up and down, up and down and hopefully that was my massive down and now I am on the way up.

“It was a shame in my last ride when I had hoped to get an even better finish. Richard normally team rides really well but it was just in that one it didn't happen.

“We know where we went wrong and that is part of riding together and we are new as a pairing really, and we are still learning.

“Obviously, with my last few meetings I can understand he hasn't had to look for me but then again it was a really hard race for all of us.

“Batch (Troy Batchelor) was riding really well, I mean, look at him in heat fifteen the way he forced his way through there, and I just think in my last one (heat eleven) Rich had a lot to deal with and I had been struggling and so it was just one of those things, but hopefully it is a step forward.

“I definitely think that two weeks ago I wouldn't have done what I did in my last race so I am hoping that I am on my way back now.”

Pirates will face Scunthorpe or Edinburgh in the final.

WORKINGTON 45: Troy Batchelor: 12 (3,1,2,3,3); Antti Vuolas: 10+1 (1,3,2,2,2'); Craig Cook: 9 (3,2,3,1); Jason Edwards: 5 (3,0,0,2); Jye Etheridge: 5 (1,FD,3,1); Paul Starke: 3+2 (0,1,0,1',1'); Sam McGurk: 1 (1,0,0,RS).

POOLE 45: Tom Brennan: 10 (2,3,3,2,0); Ben Cook: 9 (2,3,R,3,1); Zach Cook: 7+1 (0,2',2,3); Richard Lawson: 7 (2,2,3,0); Tobias Thomsen: 5 (3,1,1,0); Ben Trigger: 4+1 (2',0,2,0); Sam Hagon: 3+2 (0,1',1',1).