Ben Cook stars as Poole Pirates storm back to beat Redcar Bears

Pirates trailed both on the night and on aggregate with four heats to go, before a string of victories turned the tie on its head in remarkable fashion.

Ben Cook was at the heart of the comeback, top scoring on the night with 15+2 from six rides, well supported by Richard Lawson (13+1).

The 49-41 win, and 96-84 on aggregate, keeps Pirates top of the SGB Championship table.

Poole arrived with a full strength septet, while Jordan Jenkins guested for Redcar, in place of Connor Bailey, who is sitting out the rest of the season due to mental exhaustion.

Pirates’ evening got off to a nightmare start, Foord suffering a high-speed crash during the parade lap. The teenager’s throttle got stuck open, which sent him crashing into the fence and his bike up into the air.

After a delay, Poole got their noses in front in heat one, Lawson winning from the gate.

Confusion reigned as heat two went to a re-run. Foord’s forgettable night saw him squeezed out on the opening bend and tumble into the fence.

He was not ready for the restart, but was given some extra time just as the remaining three riders were about to get going at the tapes.

Foord again missed the two-minute timer and would subsequently be withdrawn from the meeting due to injury, after being checked over by the paramedic.

Redcar levelled the scores on the night, Sam Hagon splitting the home pair, having initially slipped to the back.

Dan Gilkes picked up an impressive victory in heat three, swooping around the outside on bend two to get ahead of Tom Brennan. Zach Cook’s challenge was thwarted as he slowed up to avoid being wiped out by Jenkins, who also just avoided a fall before pulling away for third.

A shared heat followed, won well by Danny King, before the scores were levelled on aggregate as Bears claimed another 4-2. Jenkins was out in front and while Lawson stormed ahead of Gilkes, he could not quite reel in the leader.

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The four-point margin on the night remained as the next four heats were shared. The first came after a brilliant battle at the front. Jason Edwards showed a turn of pace to get ahead of Ben Cook, but the Aussie dug in and eventually got back into first.

Redcar pair King and Edwards then eased to respective victories, Tobias Thomsen getting up from last to second to keep the tie level overall in heat eight.

Ben Cook then converted a brilliant start to secure his second win of the night.

But Redcar soon got their noses in front on aggregate for the first time. Charles Wright and Edwards made an ideal start and while Brennan got up in between them, Zach Cook’s struggles at the back meant the hosts moved 33-27 ahead on the night.

Richard Lawson again hit double figures (Image: Richard Crease)

Pirates suffered another slice of misfortune in heat 11. With Lawson holding off King out in front, Thomsen fought his way up to third, before suffering bike trouble which cost him his point.

Team boss Gary Havelock then made what proved to be a vital tactical substitution in heat 12 to turn the momentum. Ben Cook was brought in to take the place of Hagon and he team rode brilliantly with Brennan to record the first maximum of the evening.

And the skipper repeated the trick in the power-packed heat 13, riding to a 5-1 with Lawson ahead of former British champions King and Wright to put Poole back ahead on the night for the first time since heat one.

Pirates then secured the aggregate bonus point with a heat to spare thanks to Zach Cook’s victory, Jenkins getting ahead of Hagon into second to keep the contest alive.

But Poole quashed any hopes Redcar had of forcing a super heat, Ben Cook and Lawson combining again for another maximum.

Redcar 41 (84): Wright 7+1, Edwards 6, Gilkes 6+1, Jenkins 8, King 9, Trigger 2+1, Mulford 3.

Pirates 49 (96): Lawson 13+1, Thomsen 3, Brennan 9, Z Cook 4+1, B Cook 15+2, Hagon 5+2, Foord 0.