POOLE Pirates have moved four points clear at the top of the SGB Championship table, after a pair of impressive away wins.

Pirates headed to reigning champions Glasgow Tigers on Friday night, snatching a 46-44 victory in the final heat, with Richard Lawson (11) and Ben Cook (11) top scoring.

Things were more straightforward on Saturday, Poole prevailing 53-37 against Workington Comets, Tom Brennan (14+1) recording a paid maximum.

Both Glasgow and Workington were previously unbeaten at home in the Championship all season.

It was a complete one-to-seven performance which got the job done for Poole at Ashfield.

Glasgow got the early advantage, helped by Lawson controversially being excluded after falling at the first bend of lap one. Guest Ashton Boughen, taking the place of injured Tobias Thomsen, split the home pair.

Vinnie Foord continued the good form he showed at Wimborne Road on Wednesday with three points from his opening two rides as Poole levelled up at 12-12 after heat four, Ben Cook and Brennan posting convincing race wins.

Anders Rowe, guesting in place of fellow former Pirate Steve Worrall who is currently sidelined through illness, impressed to defeat Lawson and take victory in heat five.

Pirates recorded the first maximum of the night in heat seven to level scores at 21 apiece, Ben Cook and Zach Cook combining, after Leon Flint had led early on.

Foord then added two more points to his tally as the narrow lead continued to switch hands, as it did in heat two, Ben Cook eventually prevailing in a thrilling battle with Chris Harris.

Rowe and James Pearson teamed up for a huge Glasgow 5-1 to take the lead overall in heat 12, Ben Cook’s chances hampered having to start off 15 metres after missing the two-minute timer.

But scores were levelled up again going into the decider, which was won by Lawson with Ben Cook in third.

(Image: Taylor Lanning)

Poole used the same side for their first ever league trip to Workington on Saturday, again team managed by Gary Havelock.

Comets, chasing a play-off place, made a perfect start with a maximum in heat one, courtesy of Claus Vissing and Craig Cook.

But Poole hit straight back in kind, via Sam Hagon and Foord.

Captain Ben Cook won by a stretch in heat three, putting his side in front, a lead they would never squander.

Race wins from Brennan, Lawson and Zach Cook further extended the lead, before Boughen and Foord sealed a maximum in heat eight, ahead of Vissing.

Craig Cook won the most exciting individual race of the day, pipping brothers Ben and Zach, but Poole remained 14 points ahead.

Captain Craig Cook was then brought in as a tactical substitute, teaming up with Antti Vuolas to reduce the arrears.

But the damage was already done, Poole further extending their winning margin with two more maximums in the final three heats, through Lawson and Brennan, with Celina Liebmann claiming victory in between.

Poole are now four points clear of nearest challengers Scunthorpe Scorpions.