POOLE Comets avenged their narrow defeat at Exeter earlier this season with a comprehensive 98-73 triumph at Harbourside Raceway.

The hosts eased to success despite being whitewashed 7-0 in consecutive races in the closing stages, a first in 41 years of racing at Poole.

With Aaron Smith available, Poole were able to track a near full-strength side which included Polish internationals Dawid Bas and Maciej Ganczarek, with fast-improving 15-year-old Ben Tinsdale lining up at reserve.

Comets got off to a dream start as Smith and Jay Briggs banked a 7-3 maximum in the opener. And the home side kept the pressure on with four further heat advantages before Aaron Herbert stopped the rot by becoming Exeter’s first race-winner.

Some 16 points ahead at the halfway stage, Poole opened the second half with consecutive maximums to leave Exeter reeling.

And when Briggs was excluded from heat 12, it was Comets team-mate Smith who stepped up with a tapes-to-flag race victory.

Trailing 91-56, Exeter suddenly scored 14 unanswered points when Briggs and Dean Hook, and then Smith and Ben Donohue, were given their marching orders by the match referee.

But it was too little, too late, with Tinsdale and Ganczarek restoring the status quo with a maximum heat win in the final race.

Poole 98: Dean Hook 14, Aaron Smith 14, Dawid Bas 14, Maciej Ganczarek 14, Ben Tinsdale 13, Pete Chant 11, Jay Briggs 9, Ben Donohue 9.

Exeter 73: Aaron Herbert 19, Owen Tidball 13, Dave Murphy 10, Dan Winchester 9, Connor Tucker 9, Rob Geach 8, Lauren Hookway 4, Brett Tucker 1.

Comets were also victorious in the South West League Division Two match, easily beating Exeter 78-42.

The home side supplied 11 of the 12 race winners, with Fraser Garnett racing to a 16-point maximum. Callum Smith and Macie Schmidt were unbeaten by an opponent.

Poole 78: Fraser Garnett 16, Danny Byrne 13, Callum Smith 13, Macie Schmidt 10, Krissie Mines 10, Ryan Bollom 9, Bethany Briggs.

Exeter 42: Lauren Hookway 12, Rosie Tidball 8, Liam Borrowdale 7, Shannon Tucker 6, Karla Lomas 5, Shannon Borrowdale 4.