LAKESIDE Hammers slipped to a disappointing defeat at Poole last night.The Pirates were bottom of the table before their 52-41 victory over the Hammers, but they lifted themselves clear.

LAKESIDE Hammers slipped to a disappointing defeat at Poole last night.

The Pirates were bottom of the table before their 52-41 victory over the Hammers, but they lifted themselves clear.

Jonas Davidsson and Lee Richardson were both in good form for the Hammers, but apart from brief efforts from Adam Shields, the rest of the Hammers side were disappointing.

Poole took early control with maximum returns in heats 2 and 3 and even dealt with two tactical rides invoked by the Lakeside Hammers, although the second one literally went up in smoke as Stuart Robson's bike burst into flames as he was preparing for the start of heat 14.

The Pirates were well served by a battling Daniel Davidsson, one of two Pirates who failed to take the chequered flag first but produced some excellent passes on his way to his paid 10 haul.

Scorers:Poole (52) C.Holder 13, B.Pedersen 9+2, J.Screen 8, D.Davidsson 7+3, A.Dryml 6+1, C.Stonehewer 6+1, P.Hurry 3+2

Lakeside (41) J.Davidsson 14, L.Richardson 13, A.Shields 7+1, K.Nieminen 4, S.Robson 3+1, J.Hart 0 (rider replacement for J.Kylmakorpi)