POOLE Pirates progressed to the semi-finals of the Championship Knockout Cup with a 92-87 aggregate win over Edinburgh Monarchs, despite defeat in Scotland.

Trailing by nine points from the first leg, Edinburgh recorded race winners in each of the first four heats at Armadale to throw the outcome of the tie into doubt, reducing the overall arrears to a solitary point.

But Poole then clicked into gear, Dane Tobias Thomsen notably recording two victories, with Ben Cook and Tom Brennan following suit as the scores were levelled on the night in heat 10.

And while Edinburgh won the meeting on the night 47-43, Pirates had done enough to progress.

Poole won the coin toss, but got off to a nightmare start with Josh Pickering and Lasse Fredriksen producing a maximum, holding off Richard Lawson.

Sam Hagon led early in heat two, only for Max James to emerge from the pack to take victory.

The wins kept coming for the Monarchs, Brennan splitting the home pair to limit the damage in heat three, while Justin Sedgmen’s win moved the hosts 16-8 up.

But a superb ride from Thomsen got Poole back on track, combining with Lawson for a 5-1.

Captain Ben Cook then held off Pickering to continue the momentum, before Brennan got in on the act. Trailing Sedgmen for more than three laps, the young Brit finally reeled him in.

Thomsen then got his second race win, battling to the front at the first bend and winning by a stretch.

Another shared heat followed, before the scores were levelled on the night as Brennan took to the front again. Zach Cook, who had a tricky night, was up alongside him, but Pickering swooped around the outside to split the Pirates pair.

Three more shared heats suited Poole perfectly, including a brilliant battle out in front of heat 13, where Pickering just pipped Lawson.

And the visitors mathematically ensured qualification in the following race, Zach Cook taking the honours.

Edinburgh won the meeting on the night with a maximum in heat 15, but it is Poole who advance to the last four as they look to win back the trophy they last lifted in 2022.

Pirates return to action tomorrow, as they start their SGB Championship league campaign away at Berwick Bandits (7pm).

Edinburgh 47 (87): Pickering 13, Fredriksen 5+2, Thomson 4+1, Castagna 8, Sedgmen 10+1, James 4+1, Coles 3+2.

Pirates 43 (92): Lawson 7+1, Thomsen 7+1, Brennan 11, Z Cook 5, B Cook 10+1, Hagon 2, Perry 1+1.