Middleditch hails 'job well done' as Poole Pirates ease into BSN Series semi-finals

Team manager Neil Middleditch hailed a “job well done” by Poole Pirates as they progressed into the semi-finals of the BSN Series, following a 47-43 win at Plymouth.

Poole only needed 33 points having previously built a lead over the Gladiators at Wimborne Road.

But thanks to 14 from number one Richard Lawson, as well as 8+2 from Tobias Thomsen down at reserve, the visitors came away from the Coliseum as winners on the night.

"That was a job well done," said Middleditch.

"It was all good wasn't it? A bit eventful with one thing or another but there are always fireworks between Plymouth and Poole, which is good for the interest of the crowd, but we got the job done and that was the main thing.

"We came here wanting to win. Yes, we knew we would be through if we hit 33 but you have to go out with the mindset of wanting to win and you can't take things easy on this track.

“Small tracks are very hard to ride, you have to ride them harder than the big tracks, but we applied ourselves well. We wanted to win and we got it.

?? FINAL SCORE | PLYMOUTH 43 - 47 POOLE

?? BSN Semi-Final place confirmed with a 105-75 aggregate win over over the Gladiators

??‍?? #PiratePride pic.twitter.com/pE4cWFwAyH

— Poole Pirates Speedway (@poolespeedway) June 1, 2024

"We saw some good stuff from Tobias. First time at the track and he was a bit tentative the first time out but then he really got going and was really attacking it, and that is how you ride Plymouth.”

Pirates, the inaugural champions of last season’s BSN Series, will now face either Edinburgh, Workington and Scunthorpe in the semi-final knockout stages.

They are back in action in the SGB Championship on Wednesday, when Redcar Bears visit Wimborne Road (7.30pm).

(Picture: Tony Hartmann)