Next yearMarch: The line-up for 1998 has a 'strength in depth' feel, whilst several other teams field strong heat-leader trios. With Steve Schofield on loan to Oxford, Ryan Sullivan joins the Pirates on-loan from Peterborough after a successful winter, to form an Aussie 1-2 with Craig Boyce, now in his 9th year in a Pirates' race jacket. With high hopes of continued improvement from Marvyn Cox, Lars Gunnestad and Mark Lemon, the form of Magnus Zetterstrom may make the difference.
April : An accident involving Ryan Sullivan on the first bend of his first home heat had fans remembering the early injuries of 1996, however he was not badly hurt.
The biggest contributing factor is rain; washouts for the press day, Good Friday, the following Wednesday, and two at Kings Lynn on consecutive nights! Finally on the last Wednesday of the month the visit of unbeaten Ipswich was also washed-out, the Pirates needing a point to secure a semi-final place in the cup.
A month remembered for snow and floods!
Thought : Looks like a strong top-three is good enough to win the league (Ipswich have Louis, Rickardsson and Gollob) so Poole have got it wrong again ?
May : Beaten at Belle Vue. Defeat at home to un-beaten Ipswich, with Gollob scoring an unbeaten 18-point maximum on his first ever visit to Wimborne Road. High point of that meeting was Zetterstom's 9 points.
Craig's form like a rollercoaster (3 at Belle Vue, 3 at home to Ipswich, 14 for Swindon at Eastbourne). The seventh rain-off on May 13th to a massive thunderstorm.
A surprise win at Oxford (with the help of a first heat injury to Jason Crump).
The month ending badly with Marvyn Cox out for the rest of the season with a broken leg, and Ryan Sullivan suffering an asthma attack at
Eastbourne.
June : Started with a good home win against Belle Vue. And a narrow win at Kings Lynn. However a slaughter by Ipswich in Suffolk (Craig 2 points on borrowed equipment just before a Grand Prix), was nothing compared to the rematch in Poole on 1st July.
July : The 1st July 1998 will be remembered for a very long time as Poole suffered their largest home defeat in 50 years (26-64) and were completely humiliated.
July/August : I've been hard at work so little time to follow the action. Other than to say Kelvin Tatum was signed until the end of the season as a permanent replacement for Marvyn Cox, and Lars Gunnestaad was dropped in favour of Gary Havelock, who in turn had been dropped by Eastbourne. Havvy's debut showed he still has something to offer British speedway, and Tatum's experience has brought some stability to the team. A run of three consecutive wins at the end of August, including a double over bottom team Kings Lynn has rejuvenated the team (at least for the rest of this season. These short-term signings however do not address long-term concerns).
September/October : Main feature is rain ! Havvy is enjoying his time with the Pirates, and may return in 1999.