Cook misses Shielfield showdown

Poole Pirates will be without skipper Zach Cook when they become the latest club to challenge the R.E.D Bandits, powered by STS 100 per cent 2026 home record.

The Australian rides for Lodz in the Polish league and they have first call on him with this being a rearranged fixture – Saturday night was originally earmarked for the Championship Pairs.

Cook also missed Poole’s trip to Plymouth last weekend which resulted in them losing for the first time in this year’s Cab Direct Championship.

While Cook is a former Gladiator and regular high scorer around The Coliseum he has a much less impressive record in the Borders – 29 points from six visits including four points from as many rides in the Knockout cup semi-final defeat in June.

Which may explain why Poole have chosen to go with rider replacement rather than source a guest on an evening when no other Championship sides are in action.

Former Berwick number one Lewis Kerr will take one of Cook’s programmed rides but it does through a lot of responsibility onto the shoulders of 17-year-old Will Cairns and Cooper Rushen, one year his junior.

Edward Kennett guests in place of long-term injury victim Fraser Bowes as they take advantage of an average over five points.

Kennett was worth much more than the three point tally on his visit with Oxford, winning a race impressively but let down by machinery problems in his others.

Cheetahs’ team-mate Darryl Ritchings replaces Jack Smith on the Berwick side of the pits with the Stoke racer still feeling the effects of his big off in Saturday’s win over Workington.

But the Bandits’ welcome back Jordan Jenkins whose absence last week may have been crucial in narrow losses at Redcar and Workington.

Poole originally named Jordan as their guest against Edinburgh on Wednesday before realising that he was serving a seven day suspension after not racing at Redcar, a ban which runs out this Friday clearing him to resume racing against the Pirates.

While a repeat of June’s 55-35 cup win may be asking a little too much, victory and the two points – pulling back 30 points and taking the aggregate bonus seems a little fanciful – are very much there for the taking.

Nick Morris warms-up for the weekend with a guest booking to cover Kyle Howarth as Glasgow travel to Edinburgh on Friday with all to play for by both sides after a draw at Ashfield last week.

Bandits: Peter Kildemand, Jye Etheridge, Victor Palovaara, Jordan Jenkins, Nick Morris, Darryl Ritchings, Reid Battye

Pirates: Richard Lawson, Will Cairns, R/R for Zach Cook, Cooper Rushen, Lewis Kerr, Edward Kennett, Kyle Newman

Don’t forget to check out our Facebook and Instagram pages for an opportunity to win a coveted Golden Ticket – free admission for you and a partner, as many under-16s as you can manage, a pits tour, chat with your favourite rider and the opportunity to watch some racing from the centre green.

Don’t forget that accompanied under-16s are admitted free and that Shielfield Park has two licensed bars with very reasonable prices, a hot food takeaway, free car parking and superb viewing all round the stadium.

Pictures: Keith Hamblin