PLYMOUTH have called on a Pirates’ old boy to add even more spice to their season’s bow at Poole.
They have named King’s Lynn’s Anders Rowe at No.1 for the trip to Wimborne Road in the BSN Series – nine months after he lifted the trophy as a Pirate.
Rowe guests in place of Nico Covatti who had been due to lead the Devon side this season only to be injured in a crash in Argentina.
The meeting is live on BSN tonight and the 21-year-old is one of three 2023 Pirates, along with Kyle Newman and Joe Thompson, named in the Gladiators’ side.
Poole promoter Dan Ford admitted that the inclusion of Rowe – who is concentrating on the Premiership this season – gives what is traditionally a hard-fought encounter “an extra dose of spice.”
Ford added: “Our meetings against Plymouth always had something extra about them, and our old adversary Garry May has just added a bit more spice to it by booking Anders as a guest.
“Although there are no hard feelings between us and the riders we had to release from last season, I am sure that Kyle, Joe and Anders, will be well up for the challenge.
“Our lads performed extremely well as a unit against Oxford on Good Friday in what was their first outing. Clearly, we are not going to hit 60 every meeting but it is a priority to make Wimborne Road a real fortress and get another one over our Devonshire cousins.”
Covatti, a former Pirate, had been due to resume his British racing career after a two-year absence but, following the crash which left him with arm and leg fractures, Plymouth were granted a 28-day facility to cover his absence.
This will be the Gladiators first action of the season after they were forced to cancel their opening two meetings at the Coliseum to allow the track to settle after a major winter remodelling of the circuit.
Australian Jacob Hook – who rode for Edinburgh and Berwick last season – makes his Plymouth debut while Newman returns to the Devon side after an eight-year absence.
Poole: Richard Lawson, Tobias Thomsen, Tom Brennan, Zach Cook, Ben Cook, Sam Hagon, Max Perry.
Plymouth: Anders Rowe, Alfie Bowtell, Dan Thompson, Kyle Newman, Ben Barker, Joe Thompson, Jacob Hook.
Stream HERE
Words by George Dodds.
Images by Taylor Lanning.