PIRATES number one Richard Lawson admitted that Poole have left themselves requiring victory away at Scunthorpe in the play-off group stages after a winning draw at Wimborne Road on Wednesday night.

The Scorpions managed to force the first meeting of Group A to a super heat after scores were level after 15 races, Lawson and club captain Steve Worrall combining to ensure Pirates’ unbeaten home record remained intact.

Both Scorpions and Pirates have home and away meetings with Edinburgh Monarchs, the lowest-ranked side in the play-offs, but it appears the return clash between the two outfits in Lincolnshire on Friday, September 22.

Discussing the encounter, Lawson shared: "It was a very tough meeting.

“We all tried really hard, we nearly threw that away going to in heat 15, but we came through it.

“Really we know that we will now have to go to Scunthorpe and win, like we did before.

“It is certainly looking like the winner of that meeting will be topping the table, but that is not to write Edinburgh off of course.

“We all like the track there at Scunthorpe and whilst we haven't got the lead that we wanted to take, we can still claim that we are unbeaten at home.

“We are the Pirates and we have come from worse.

“But first we need to focus on our meeting next week.

“I think we will have the track a little bit different for that one.

“It wasn't altogether to our liking (against Scunthorpe) but that is no excuse, it is the same for all fourteen riders, but we got a bit caught out.

“We won't be complacent next week, that's for sure, as Edinburgh could come and surprise us.

“But we will use this win to carry through some momentum."

Pirates return to action next Wednesday, when they welcome Edinburgh Monarchs to Wimborne Road.

They then travel to Scunthorpe, before rounding off their group stage campaign away at Edinburgh the following Friday.

The team that finishes top of the group will face their counterparts from group B, consisting of Oxford, Redcar, and Glasgow.