PATCHED-UP Pirates lost number one Rory Schlein within one bend of their SGB Championship clash at Glasgow before falling to a 52-38 defeat.

The 2020 British Champion was attended to by two ambulances at Ashfield Stadium with a suspected leg injury, after tangling with Craig Cook on the first bend of heat one.

Schlein’s withdrawal from the meeting meant a busy night for the six remaining Pirates, with Danny King (13+1) top scoring and Ben Cook (8+3) impressing at reserve.

The hefty defeat however means Pirates have taken just one SGB Championship point from their first two meetings on the road.

The Dorset club had made the lengthy journey north of the border for the clash in Scotland but a tapes malfunction in heat one saw all four riders back for the restart.

A racing incident between Schlein and Craig Cook saw the duo hook up heading into turn one, with the Pirates number one clattering into the air fence.

Medical staff were called to treat the 36-year-old, who was forced to withdraw after a 50-minute delay.

That meant Pirates used the injury rider replacement rule for the entire contest, with the Tigers taking a 4-2 advantage in the opening heat.

Craig Cook took the chequered flag having led from the gate, with Zane Keleher holding off the challenge of Broc Nicol to finish second. Danny King, replacing Schlein, was trailing at the back.

A second heat win for Glasgow came in the reserves’ race with Sam Jensen flying out of gate one to lead home Pirates youngster Ben Cook. Poole’s Rising star Danyon Hume finished third to ensure the spoils were shared.

The visitors’ first race victory of the night came when Steve Worrall picked up where he left off for Pirates last time out.

A top-scorer for Poole at Eastbourne, the St Helens star led from the off to triumph with ease ahead of Glasgow pair Ulrich Ostergaard and Justin Sedgmen. Stefan Nielsen was at the back.

Glasgow rising star Jack Smith then gated brilliantly to get ahead of King and Hume in race four, but former British champion King showed his speed to dive up the inside to take the heat win.

Hume led home former Pirate Ricky Wells in third for a 4-2 for the visitors – meaning the contest was levelled up at 12-12.

Back came the Tigers, however. Ostergaard made the start in heat five with Worrall passing Sedgemen into second. Keleher was left trailing at the back.

Ben Cook then showed his ability on his first trip to Glasgow. While Craig Cook led from the gate ahead of King, the Cowra-born charger roared round the outside of Nicol to ensure a shared heat.

But the Tigers turned the screw with two big 5-1s in races seven and eight.

Jensen and Wells led out the gate and team rode ahead of Nielsen and Worrall, before Nicol and Smith were too quick for Keleher and Hume to ensure the hosts went into a 29-19 lead after eight heats.

King led from the gate and was well in front of Ostergaard and Sedgmen in a shared race nine, Ben Cook tried roaring round the outside but his efforts proved not enough to get in the points.

Team boss Gary Havelock then opted to use King as a tactical substitute in place of Nielsen in race 10 but it was Glasgow number one Craig Cook who continued his impressive evening.

Having trailed King in second, the Glasgow talisman passed the Poole skipper on the final lap to earn his side a 4-2 and extend to 12 points their advantage.

Ben Cook then got out of the gate in race 11 having taken his rider replacement opportunity but was hauled in by Jensen. Wells missed the start but had enough to hold off Keleher to increase to 14 the Tigers’ advantage.

A sublime pass from Ben Cook in race 12 then earned his side an important 5-1. With Worrall having hit the front ahead of Ostergaard, the exiting Aussie found some drive up the inside and surged into second.

Craig Cook kept up his impressive night’s work as he was gone from the gate to make it 12 points out of 12 and lead home King. Ben Cook picked up a point after Ricky Wells saw his bike pack up.

But power-packed reserve Jensen continued his fine evening’s work for Glasgow, as he and Sedgemen both passed Poole’s Nielsen off the second bend in heat 14. Hume was last as the hosts dialled in another 5-1.

And Craig Cook finished off his flawless performance after slipping up the inside of Worrall and King in a shared heat 15 finale – as Glasgow cruised to a comfortable triumph.

GLASGOW 52: C Cook 15 (max), Jensen 12, Ostergaard 8, Sedgmen 5+3, Nicol 5, Smith 4+1, Wells 3+1.

PIRATES 38: King 13+1, Worrall 10 , B Cook 8+3, Hume 3+1, Keleher 3, Nielsen 1, Schlein (0, withdrawn).

(Pictures: Phil Lanning/@LannoMedia)