Cook admits Poole had to 'knuckle down' in win against Edinburgh

Poole Pirates captain Ben Cook described as a “tough battle” his team’s 50-40 victory over the Edinburgh Monarchs at Wimborne Road.

The triumph put Neil Middleditch’s men second in the SGB Championship standings, two points behind the Oxford Cheetahs having ridden two fewer meetings.

But with just four points between Poole and Edinburgh after 11 heats, Cook revealed there was an impromptu team talk between the riders and boss Middleditch going into the latter stages.

He said: “It was a tough battle. They raced really hard.

“We had a bit of a team talk right at the end. We really had to knuckle down and start getting some wins. We will take a 10-point win from where we were sitting during the meeting.”

Cook himself totalled 7+1 for the hosts, while number one Richard Lawson led from the front with 12. Tom Brennan reached double figures with 10+1.

?? FINAL SCORE | POOLE 50 - 40 EDINBURGH

?? Another tough battle with the Monarchs at Wimborne Road but the Pirates come out on top

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— Poole Pirates Speedway (@poolespeedway) July 3, 2024

Aussie ace Justin Sedgmen top scored for the Monarchs with 14 from five rides, only missing out on a maximum after being beaten by Lawson in the finale.

“It was a tough one. Personally, I struggled to get something to work. We have those nights and my night was tonight,” said Cook.

“I was riding very hard for not much!

“I tried a few different things, a different engine. It probably didn’t work out but these things happen in speedway and we move on to the next one.”

Next up for Pirates is a home clash with Plymouth Gladiators on Wednesday, July 17.