POOLE PIRATES’ dominance of the second tier came to an end at Wimborne Road, Glasgow Tigers ending up winners in the SGB Championship grand final.

The hosts had work to do heading into the second leg at home, trailing by 14, and they never looked like equalising the deficit throughout the contest.

Since dropping down into the Championship, Pirates have enjoyed vast success, winning the title in 2021 and 2022 alongside knockout cup success (2021 and 2022) and BSN series (2023) glory.

Chris ‘Bomber’ Harris continued his personal domination from the first leg, with only Steve Worrall able to beat the former Pirate in the final heat.

It was not the start Pirates had in mind as the two Glasgow riders roared to an easy maximum, Harris leading Tom Brennan for a Tigers one-two.

Poole answered back straight away, Kyle Newman returning for heat two to win, Joe Thompson following behind in second for a Pirates maximum.

Vadim Tarasenko’s first ride of the night as replacement for the missing Claus Vissing was a successful one, the Russian taking first ahead of the Cook brothers, Ben and Zach following behind in second and third respectively.

Another draw in heat four ended in a race win for Pirates, Steve Worrall’s first-placed finish answered by Tarasenko and Ace Pijper.

Harris continued to be a thorn in Pirates’ side, taking home three points in race five. Brennan’s point from third tipped the heat in Tigers’ favour, Ben Cook sandwiched between the two Glasgow riders in second.

Time was quickly running out for Pirates, Tigers maintaining the 16-point lead on aggregate with another draw.

Tarasenko’s second race win of the night was equalised by Lawson and Thompson in second and third, with the sixth heat awarded after Complin had come off his bike.

There was another stoppage in the following race, Pijper falling with Worrall involved in the tangle.

To Poole’s fury, their skipper Worrall was excluded from the re-run, Newman valiantly battling to take second between Basso and Pijpers.

Another tie followed in the eighth heat, Zack Cook and Newman’s two-three finish blocking Brennan from stretching Tigers’ advantage further.

The Cook brothers gave Pirates a lifeline in heat nine with a maximum, Ben and Zach leading from the gates to cut the gap back to 14.

It looked like the margin would remain the same after heat 10, Newman doing well to wrestle third from Basso’s grasp.

But Lawson had other ideas, setting up a move late on to overtake Complin and give Pirates a third race advantage on the evening.

However, Pirates’ comeback stalled in heat 11, ‘Bomber’ Harris continuing his unbeaten streak against Poole riders throughout the grand final.

A sombre Wimborne Road recognised a third straight title was out of their hands by the end of heat 12, Ben Cook’s race win for naught as Basso and Complin ensured the points would be split.

With a 14-point lead with three heats remaining, Pirates required a miracle.

It was not forthcoming, with Harris putting the result beyond doubt when he beat Worrall and Lawson in race 13.

Pirates restored some pride with Zach Cook in heat 14, Newman adding an eighth point from third.

Heat 15 was another race with only bragging rights on the line, Worrall finally getting one over Harris.

Pirates – 47: R Lawson 7+1, B Cook 11, Z Cook 7+2, S Worrall 10, K Newman 8+1, J Thompson 3+2.

Tigers – 43: C Harris 14, T Brennan 7+1, B Basso 5, V Tarasenko 9, L Complin 4+1, A Pijper 2+1.