Middlo: Cup glory is still up for grabs despite loss

From the Echo, first published Monday 20th Oct 2003.

PIRATES team manager Neil Middleditch believes they can still win the British League Cup despite losing 48-42 at Eastbourne in the first leg of the final yesterday.

Leigh Adams scorched to a 15-point maximum at Arlington and Bjarne Pedersen got 10 as Poole produced 10 of the 15 heat winners.

But the Eagles had greater strength in depth and are happy to take a six-point lead to Wimborne Road for the second leg on Wednesday, October 29.

It could have been better for Pirates, though, as Adams and Pedersen were on a 5-1 over David Norris and Dean Barker after three laps of heat 15.

Norris, however, found a way past second-placed Pedersen on the outside down the finish straight.

And when their bikes collided on the back straight, it was the Dane who slowed and fell as Barker took full advantage to storm through to third and salvage Eagles a 3-3.

A 5-1 or 4-2 to Poole in that race would have restricted their final deficit to 46-44 or 47-43.

Middleditch said: "I'm not too disappointed to lose by six because coming into the meeting I would have been happy with us getting 40.

"We had a tough decision in heat 15 that went against us but we could pull back six points in only two races.

"We have to go at them straight away in our home leg. If we can get ourselves in front early we can still go on and win overall.

"Everyone scored valuable points and everyone rode their best.

"We can still win the cup. Let's get a big crowd at Poole behind us because it will be a great meeting.

"It can go either way but if we put them under pressure early and pull our deficit back as quick as we can, we can win it."

Archive Home