Poole Castle Cover Pirates eased their way into the semi-finals of the KO Cup and remain on course to defend the title they won in 2010.
Nursing a healthy 34 point from the first leg the Pirates were never in danger of finishing-off the Robins, despite having to ride the meeting without Dennis Andersson. The impressive, free-scoring young Swede sustained wrist and leg injuries in Sweden on Tuesday and spent several hours in hospital being checked out.
Andersson's absence didn't affect his major racing partner Chris Holder who maintained his 100% cup record in 2011 and afterwards Holder saluted the sporting gesture of his team-mate Darcy Ward. "It was good to get another full house and I have to thank Darcy for easing up at the end of heat 15 and letting me through. I didn't think he would be able to make it off gate 4 again like he had done in 13 and that's why I was happy enough to take the outside. I managed the switch back and it was pretty cool and yes its nice to have another full maximum".
Holder had made a virtual copycat move in heat 15 to that which his younger team-mate Ward had made two heats previously as the two Australians once again provided good entertainment for the Poole fans - those who had taken advantage of the reduced admissions to witness Poole claim a 55-41 win on the night to set themselves up for a tie against either Eastbourne or Wolverhampton in September.
But it wasn't just the awesome Aussies who had the fans on their feet, local lad Kyle Newman, retaining his place at reserve with Christian Hefenbrock still ruled out with injuries that could keep him sidelined for around a month, producing an excellent heat 7 ride.
Just moments after being forced to the deck as Darcy ward swept across the line and took down Swindon's Nicolai Klindt who in turn collected Newman, the young Poole lad was able to get ahead of Klindt in the re-run and worked hard to keep him at bay. Klindt though lined up the youngster and passed him only for Newman to retaliate with an equally good pass of his own. But coming off the final turn Klindt had found the slightly faster line and just stole the verdict for the point that shared the heat.
By that time the Robins were still waiting for their first race winner and that eventually came in the guise of tactical ride Simon Stead in heat 9 who dented skipper Davey Watt's maximum aspirations, but the unbeaten tag was still firmly round the necks of faultless Holder and never-say-die Ward.
The younger Aussie produced a ruthless inside drive at the first turn to go under Scott Nicholls in heat 11 and then two heats later demonstrated motorcyling skill of the highest order as he switched back from gate 4 to slice by Nicholls and Stead with leader Chris Holder seemingly oblivious to the move. But two heats later, after Swindon had claimed their second tactical victor of the tie through Klindt in the penultimate heat, it was Holder who made a copycat manoeuvre as Ward made the running off gate 2. As the chequered flag beckoned Ward waved Holder through to ensure that the Poole number one made it two full maximums in as many Wimborne Road meetings and sent him off to Cardiff with a perfect five card trick up his sleeve.
