Matchday update

A breezy and somewhat nippy start to Saturday in TD15 but the good news is the forecast is set fair and the Pirates of Poole and on their way to Shielfield Park buoyed by victory at Edinburgh last night.

A last heat 5-1 for in-form Richard Lawson and Anders Rowe rubber-stamped the win at Armadale which takes them to the top of the fledgling Cab Direct table despite another virtuoso performance from Monarchs’ reserve Victor Palovaara – 19 points from seven rides.

While the big two hit their straps, covering indifferent performances from Zach Cook and Lewi Kerr, it was the contributions of Tobias Thomsen,  7+3, and ex-Bandit Paul Starke, 5+3, that made the difference on a night when Edinburgh lost Oskar Polis after just one ride, a winning one for the Pole in a meeting delayed for 20 minutes by troublesome sunshine.

R.E.D Bandits, powered by STS Dayle Wood will have inside knowledge on the reigning champions having guested against them last night. His points, along with those of Jack Smith are likely to prove vital in what looks like being another close-run meeting.

Of the four encounters between the sides at Shielfield both there have been 46-44 victories to Poole (2024), the Bandits (2021), a 2022 draw before the days of Super Heats and a ten-point victory for the Pirates in 2023.

Lawson has an outstanding record around Shielfield, averaging 10.5 a meeting over 26 visits, while former Berwick number one Kerr is over seven a match while in-form Rowe has a modest return from four early career  trips on team business but was on the podium here in the 200 British under-21 final. Cook and Thomsen have modest records while Daryl Ritchings races at Shielfield for the first time.

As always it’s tapes-up for heat one at 7pm with tickets for the evening on sale until the first race.  Buy tickets Alternatively there are cash turnstiles open from 6pm. And if you can’t make it trackside James Black and Marty Clyde will be calling the action live on BanditsTV, on air from 6.50pm. Buy livestream