The prospects of returning from the Black Country circuit with the league points looked decidedly unlikely after just 5 heats with the scoreline at 29-20 and the home side providing all the heat winners. Richard Clanfield earned an exclusion at the tapes in his opener to make things even more difficult but when Poole's all-Aussie pairing of Brad and Daniel capitalised on a similar home rider exclusion in heat 7 with a 7-2, the deficit closed to 4, raising hopes of a fightback.

 

These hopes were again dashed a heat later as Andre Cross got his marching orders allowing the home side to stretch away to lead 42-35. Fortunately Chris Roberts teamed up with Ben Donohue for an excellent 7-3 going into the interval raising hopes once again as the scoreboard moved on to 45-42. Poole were now getting to grips with the small tricky track and provided two more heat winners after the break courtesy of Ben and Daniel and the resulting 6-4's pushed Poole into the lead for the first time by a slender single point. The hosts were in no mood to concede the initiative and hit back with a 6-4 of the own to lead 59-58 but when key home rider Jack Hibberb picked up an exclusion in heat 13 Dave Murphy and Andre Cross were unable to do more than secure a 5-4 bringing the scores level at 63-63.

 

Despite the short run-in to the first bend, Daniel Pudney picked up his third heat win from the outer gate position in heat 14 and with Ben Donohue holding on to a valuable third place, Poole were again 2 up but smiles were soon back on the home supporters as their rider/manager Ivan Darby inspired a 6-4 to level things a heat later with just 3 races remaining. Dave Murphy and Mark Everingham sat in for a share of the spoils in heat 16 but when Tom Hibbard failed to pick up a point in heat 17,  Poole went back into a slender 1 point lead with a race to go. What better position to be in than to have a World Champion on gate 1 and Daniel duly obliged his team mates with a confident win under pressure to bring home the league points, albeit by the slenderest of margins.

 

The young Sandwell side deserves full credit for their battling performance on a day when cycle speedway was the real winner. The hosts were full of praise for the quality of racing in a match well controlled by Bob Prince as the cynical and over-tactical stuff was kept to the minimum. Match of the season was the consensus of the home fans but importantly for Poole, the two points kept their league season well and truely alive.

 

Poole scorers:

 

Daniel Pudney 19, Brad Hoppo 12+3, Mark Everingham 12+1, Chris Roberts 11+1, Ben Donohue 11, Dave Murphy 10, Andre Cross 9, Richard Clanfield 4.

 

The Combination match followed the same pattern with Sandwell making the most of their home track advantage in the early stages with Poole getting to grips and building up a 9 point lead after 12 races. Mathew and James had the extra race in heat 13 allowing the home side to finish with a 7-3 by which time the full 3 league points were safely on their way back to the South Coast. This was another close and entertaining match but Poole just had the edge at the top end. Final score, 62-67.

 

Kev Lowey 15, Luke Armes 14, Brian Holt 13, Eddie Wilkins 11+2, Matthew 8+1, James Wilkins 6.