Pirates Preview & Gladiators News
The Westcolour Gladiators are in action tonight in a frankly dead-rubber match in the context of the Southern Jubilee Cup League Fixtures.
With the injury ravaged Westcolour Gladiators now entirely focussed on the Championship League Fixtures at home to Redcar next Tuesday 16th August and Glasgow on Tuesday 23rd August and with hosts Poole already confirmed as the Southern Section winners, Team Manager Garry May, who lives in Poole, has assembled a stronger looking team of guests than many armchair supporters may have suspected for tonight’s match, given the lack of importance in the bigger scheme of things for the club.
The Westcolour Gladiators will line up
Lewis Kerr, Jason Edwards, Edward Kennett (R/R), Dillon Ruml, Broc Nicol, Ben Morley, Harry McGurk.
The Westcolour Gladiators whose last visit to Poole resulted in a 45-45 draw in controversial circumstances, with some contentious refereeing decisions and the loss of Michael Palm Toft also in very controversial circumstances, the ramifications of which have clearly impacted Michael and the club since, will be hopeful of a quieter night and to get the meeting done and dusted without any further injury alarms before focussing on their main season objectives that of qualifying for the end of season Play-Offs and hopefully lifting the League Title later in the season. We’ll have a brief review of the match tomorrow morning.
Gladiators News
The Club were advised late yesterday by the SCB (Speedway Control Bureau) that following testing of Ben Barker’s B Sample, taken at the Match at Oxford on Wednesday 27th July, that a positive test in respect of a Banned substance has been confirmed.
The Club, which made a full statement following the results of the A Test two weeks ago, will make no further comment other than to reiterate that they do not condone the use of illegal drugs in sport or life in any way and will support the SCB and BSPL fully, however we feel that there are well documented medical reasons why Ben took high doses of prescription drugs prior to the random test, and that whilst not mitigating the fact that this is against the rules and contrary to strict guidelines, that it is a scenario that deserves a full explanation and support from Ben’s Doctors.
Ben Barker statement (28th July)
The SCB has called for a hearing with Ben in September, and the Club will do all it can to support all parties in the meantime. The Club will make no further comment but would remind everyone that as the matter will be subject to a formal hearing, that no potentially libellous or slanderous comments made on social media will be accepted, and the Club will reserve the right to take legal advice should any be made or seen specifically regarding the matter.
Finally a reminder that Match Tickets are now ON SALE online for both remaining Championship League Fixtures in the “Race to the Play-offs” on the 16th August v Redcar and the 23rd August v Glasgow.
As always tickets will be available on the Night at the Turnstiles (Cash or Card) but the best way to secure a seat or a guaranteed space is via prior Booking online, as we anticipate a big crowd for both eagerly awaited fixtures and have a crowd limit set by the Local Authority which we cannot exceed, but would hope to be very near to.
ALL UNDER 16’s go FREE at all 2022 Fixtures and can also take part in a Running Race in the Interval.
Full Ticket and Under 16 details are here:
16th August v Redcar Bears tickets
23rd August v Glasgow Tigers tickets
Under 16’s GO FREE
Image Credit: Jon Sproad