There was a disappointing end to the 2006 Premier League campaign when Sandwell arrived with a very weakened team as a number of their top names were unavailable. After the classic encounter at Tividale on June 17th, which was topped off with a last heat decider, local supporters were robbed of anything to enthuse over, apart from a couple of heats involving Russ Evans and Jack Hibberd.

 

Poole won every heat in the first half, seven of them by maximum points to establish an unassailable 61 - 27 lead. SWL regulars Adam Legge and Matt Chappell filled reserve spots with a number of the PL squad unavailable and they each won races. Matt has begun to realise some of his full racing potential in recent weeks and could establish himself at this level if he puts his mind to it.

 

After the break, Poole took their foot off the gas - unsurprisingly - and the visitors  provided a couple of race winners in Jack Hibberd and Ivan Derby while no less a rider than home favourite Daniel Pudney picked up a rare tapes exclusion in heat 12. After a few weeks out of the saddle, it was good to see Richard Clanfield back in action as he dropped only one point in his five races. While the home riders may have enjoyed the points frenzy, this was hardly a spectacle and it was as well that the blustery weather restricted the attendance to a few hardy souls.

 

Poole scorers: Adam Peck 19+1, Ben Donohue 17+1, Richard Clanfield 16+3, Mark Everingham 15+1, Chris Roberts 13+1, Matt Chappell 13+1, Dan Pudney 11+3, Adam Legge 6.

 

Division 2 - Poole 87 Sandwell 52

 

The combination team emulated their first team colleagues as five of the octet remained unbeaten by an opponant. It was somehow appropriate that Poole tracked their two young reserves George Newman and James Clanfield in heat 13 -  the last official race on the old circuit before the close season reconstruction gets under way.

 

Scorers - Luke Armes 16, Richard Chappell 13+3, Dave Newman 12, Kev Lowman 11+1, Jessica Lamb 11+1, James Clanfield 5, Phil Norwood 5, George Newman 3.

 

 

Pictured below - final first-team picture of the season. Standing (l to r), Pete Barnes, Ben Donohue, Adam Legge, Chris Roberts, Colin Sutton, Mark Everingham, Matt Chappell, Richard Clanfield, Daniel Pudney, Adam Peck.