DOMINANT Pirates cruised to a commanding 55-35 success over Scunthorpe and moved back into the SGB Championship’s top two.

Neil Middleditch’s men led from start to finish in a comfortable night, to move two league points ahead of Glasgow in the race for an automatic semi-final spot. The Tigers do however have two meetings in hand on the Dorset outfit.

Skipper Danny King led from the front with 14 points for the hosts.

Pirates went into the contest fresh off the back of their 51-39 success at Plymouth in the Championship Jubilee League on Tuesday and were once again able to name a full one-to-seven.

They faced a Scorpions side still chasing a place in the top-six themselves but were full of changes. Adam Roynon made his first appearance at reserve since signing for Scunthorpe.

Redcar’s Jason Edwards came in as a guest at number three, while the visitors utilised rider replacement for the injured Jake Allen.

There was also a change of team manager on the night. With Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey unavailable at the last minute, Plymouth team boss Garry May took charge.

But it was Pirates who stamped their authority on the contest from the outset.

Having gated on a 5-1, Steve Worrall and Drew Kemp gained the advantage and, after a fall from Scunthorpe number one Ryan Douglas on bend three – the race was awarded by referee Chris Durno.

Ben Cook then started his night’s work with a win in the reserves’ heat ahead of Roynon – made even sweeter with his parents in attendance at Wimborne Road, having made the journey from Australia.

Nathan Ablitt showed his mettle to pass opposite number Zaine Kennedy for third and extend Poole’s lead.

It was becoming a procession for Poole after just three heats.

King picked up from where he left off at Plymouth with a race win alongside Zach Cook. With Scunthorpe duo James Wright and Edwards were trailing as the hosts banged in another heat advantage.

Richard Lawson kept up Poole’s sequence of race winners with victory from the gate ahead of Simon Lambert and Kennedy in a shared heat four. Poole led 17-7.

Scunthorpe got their first winner on the board when Brisbane-born Douglas fended off the challenge of King in heat five. Zach Cook was third as the spoils were shared.

Douglas was sent out as a tactical substitute for the visitors in race six and recorded back-to-back race wins. He led from tapes-to-flag with Worrall and Kemp filling the minor placings.

Drama then ensued in a hectic, shared, heat seven. Lawson showed his speed to burst round the outside of Wright, who lost a steel shoe. Ben Cook looked comfortable in third before suffering mechanical problems and being passed by Edwards.

There was then confusion in heat eight as the riders somehow managed to do an extra lap. Referee Durno declared the result after four laps, with Kemp taking the victory. Ablitt was agonisingly passed on the line by Kennedy. Poole led 29-19 at the second track grade.

King recorded his second race win of the night as Pirates extended their advantage in race nine. Douglas eventually managed to pass his countryman Zach Cook to split the Poole duo.

Poole continued to stretch their lead. Worrall recorded his second race win having made the start in race 10. Scunthorpe skipper Lambert managed to overcome Kemp, who finished third.

Douglas and Ben Cook were then involved in a ding-dong battle in heat 11.

After the Poole reserve made the start, Douglas edged round the outside with Ben Cook going wheel-to-wheel with the Scunthorpe charger for four laps. Douglas eventually gained the victory with Lawson in third. Pirates were 40-26 in front.

King made it a hat-trick of race wins having eased to victory in heat number 12. Edwards lost control on bend three allowing Ablitt to pick up a point for third.

Douglas continued to be a pain for Poole as he saw off the challenge of Worrall and Lawson in heat 13 – his fourth win of the night.

Zach Cook then went all the way round the outside to take the chequered flag in a shared heat 14, ahead of Wright and Kennedy.

And on a dominant night for the home side, skipper King and Worrall teamed up for a final-heat 5-1 ahead of Douglas and Wright.

Pirates 55: Steve Worrall 12+1, Drew Kemp 7+2, Danny King 14, Zach Cook 7+2, Richard Lawson 8+2, Ben Cook 5, Nathan Ablitt 2.

Scunthorpe 35: Ryan Douglas 15, Simon Lambert 5, Jason Edwards 3+1, James Wright 5, Adam Roynon 4, Zaine Kennedy 3+3.