POOLE Pirates kicked off their home league campaign with a thumping 61-29 win over Championship newcomers Workington Comets at Wimborne Road.

Tom Brennan once again led the way, taking home 13+1 points, with all seven of Pirates’ septet contributing points.

Comets’ reserve Celina Liebman made history as the first female racer to ride against the Pirates, with Workington’s team also including former Pirate Troy Bachelor.

In heat one, Richard Lawson steamed into the lead whilst Tobias Thomsen had a battle to take second from Tate Zischke.

The Dane followed the inside line to sneak ahead of the Aussie rider, before creating a comfortable gap to see out a Pirates 1-2.

Lawson slowed at the line, allowing Thomsen to overtake Pirates’ number one and take the win from heat one.

The rider in red also took an early lead in race two, with Sam Hagon tearing ahead of the chasing pack.

His Pirates teammate Max Perry lagged at the back initially, but quickly caught back up to Sam McGurk.

As he attempted to overtake on the inside, Perry’s back wheel clipped McGurk, leading to the heat being halted and Perry removed from the rerun.

Hagon again led by some distance, ensuring Pirates’ lead remained intact.

There would be another tumble in heat three, with Claus Vissing careering off into the air fence out of turn one.

The Workington Comet star then exceeded the two-minute countdown for the re-run, meaning he had to be replaced by Liebmann.

Eventually Zach Cook and Brennan completed their first ride of the night, taking first and second respectively.

Ben Cook’s first trip around the track produced another race win for Poole, Perry adding another point as the two Pirates sandwiched Finn Antti Vuolas in second.

Heat five saw both Pirates slow out the gates, with Brennan performing a double overtake of Craig Cook and Zischke in turn three to take the lead.

Zach Cook was unable to add any points of his own, the race points split.

In race six Batchelor became the first Comet to take a first-place finish, holding off the challenge of Lawson.

Thomsen came in third to ensure that the spoils were shared and Pirates’ 10-point lead was unchanged.

That was until the following race, where a maximum led by Ben Cook pushed the scoreline to 28-14.

Hagon claimed second in heat seven but went one better in race eight, leading Thomsen to another 5-1 for the Pirates.

The maximums kept flowing as Brennan and Zach Cook combined once again, the Pirates duo unchallenged by Batchelor and McGurk in race nine.

Lawson took home his first race win of the evening in heat 10, Thomsen only able to claim third behind Vissing.

Normal service resumed in race 11, Hagon leading teammate Ben Cook for Pirates’ sixth 5-1 of the evening.

Brennan’s perfect evening was interrupted in heat 12, tactical substitute Batchelor just about hanging on to the lead under heavy pressure from Brennan.

It was Comets’ first race win of the meeting, Vuolos beating out Perry to allow Workington to chip into Pirates’ unassailable lead.

Lawson was again comfortable whilst winning race 13, but Ben Cook pushed Batchelor all the way in the battle for second, the Aussie having to settle for third.

Despite Pirates’ dominance, there was still plenty of fight shown. After chasing Vissing throughout heat 14, a last-gasp lunge from Zach Cook saw the Aussie sneak the race win away from the Dane on the line.

After Batchelor had gotten the best of him in race 12, Brennan sought revenge in the final heat.

It took some patience, but Brennan eventually overhauled his rival to stretch Pirates’ final win to 61-29.

Pirates 61: Lawson 11+1, Thomsen 7+1, Brennan 13+1, Z Cook 8+1, B Cook 9+1, Hagon 12+1, Perry 1.

Comets 29: C Cook 1+1, Zischke 5, Vuolas 3, Vissing 4, Batchelor 13, Liebmann 2, McGurk 1+1.