Crump returns as Gladiators snatch draw
PLYMOUTH ATKINS FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT GLADIATORS 45
POOLE PIRATES 45
On a beautiful sunny evening, fans were treated to yet another night of superb racing at the Coliseum.
The home side made their now customary slow start as Poole quickly opened up an eight-point lead by Heat 5.
Jason Crump, making his much anticipated first appearance at the Coliseum, soon showed his class, winning the first race and then inspiring a Gladiators comeback by securing a 5-1 with another new boy, Zane Keleher, in Heat 6.
With Alfie Bowtell and the impressive Keleher notching up another 5-1 in Heat 8, the scores were suddenly level although Poole immediately hit back with a 5-1 of their own.
With the next 5 races shared, Plymouth required a 5-1 in the final race to secure a draw.
Unsurprisingly, manager Garry May nominated Crump and the ultra-fast Bjarne Pedersen to be the men to attempt the rescue act and they did not disappoint, both making the gate to hold off the Poole duo of Steve Worrall and Danny King and bring the fans to their feet in a storming finale to another thrilling meeting.
With Crump now close to full fitness, Keleher looking impressive and Zach Cook improving with every meeting, the Gladiators’ fans can look forward to next week’s clash with the high-flying Glasgow Tigers with great anticipation.
PLYMOUTH 45
J.Crump 3,3,1′,0,2’=9+2
Z.Keleher 0,2′,2′,2=6+2
Z.Cook 1,2,0,3=6
D.Ruml 0,1,1’=2+1
B.Pedersen 2,1′,3,3,3,3=15+1
A.Bowtell 2,0,3,0,2=7
L.Ruddick 0, 0, F=0
POOLE 45
R.Schlein 1′,3,2,1’=7+2
Rider Replacement
S.Worrall 2,3,1′,3,1′,1=11+2
S.Nielsen 2′,0,2,0,0=4+1
D.King 3, XE,2′,2,0=7+1
B.Cook 1,1,1,3,1′,2,3=12+1
D.Hume 3,1, F, FD=4
Ht 1: J.Crump, S.Worrall, R.Schlein, Z.Keleher 3-3 3-3 |51.25]
Ht 2: D.Hume, A.Bowtell, B.Cook, L.Ruddick 2-4 5-7 [50.91]
Ht 3: S.Worrall, S.Nielsen, Z.Cook, D.Ruml 1-5 6-12 [50.68]
Ht 4: D.King, B.Pedersen, D.Hume, A.Bowtell 2-4 8-16 [50.47]
Ht 5: R.Schlein, Z.Cook, B.Pedersen, S.Nielsen 3-3 11-19 [51.38]
Ht 6: J.Crump, Z.Keleher, B.Cook, D.Hume (Fell) [D.King exc tapes] 5-1 16-20 [52.1]
Ht 7: B.Pedersen, S.Nielsen, S.Worrall, L.Ruddick 3-3 19-23 [51.63]
Ht 8: A.Bowtell, Z.Keleher, B.Cook, D.Hume (Fell d/q) 5-1 24-24 [52.28]
Ht 9: B.Cook, D.King, D.Ruml, Z.Cook 1-5 25-29 [51.72]
Ht 10: S.Worrall, Z.Keleher, J.Crump, S.Nielsen 3-3 28-32 [51.56]
Ht 11: B.Pedersen, R.Schlein, B.Cook, L.Ruddick (Fell) 3-3 31-35 [51.53]
Ht 12: Z.Cook, B.Cook, S.Worrall, A.Bowtell 3-3 34-38 [53.00]
Ht 13: B.Pedersen, D.King, R.Schlein, J.Crump 3-3 37-41 [52.75]
Ht 14: B.Cook, A.Bowtell, D.Ruml, S.Nielsen 3-3 40-44 [53.00]
Ht 15: B.Pedersen, J.Crump, S.Worrall, D.King 5-1 45-45 [51.93]
Championship points: Plymouth 1 Poole 2
Image credit: Blumonkey Media.