MATCH REPORT: Wheeler inspires as Poole stake a claim for top 3 finish

September 29, 2014 editor

The close final scoreline masks a proverbial match of two halves in this final Elite League match of the season at Harbourside with Poole picking up their 4th victory of the season against a strong Stars line-up.
The Comets supplied every race winner before the break with Greg Gluchowski, Gavin Wheeler, Aaron Smith and Steve Harris dominating the procedings. Four race wins including two 7-3’s left the scoreline on 51-36 at the break with Sheffield wondering what had hit them.

With inside grids after the break, the Stars began to adapt better to the track as skipper Gavin Parr notched a brace of wins and Polish Stars Zareba and Idziorek followed suit but Poole seemed content to share the heats and still lead by 13 with two heats to go.

A Jake Read/Andy Angell 7-3 in the penultimate race and another from Zareba/Idziorek in the final race gave a glimpse of how things might have been had the visitors started as well as they finished.

Poole once again forged a victory based on outstanding performances from Gluchowski, Harris and the simply masterful Wheeler while Sheffield packed in some good scores from their middle order.

The good weather attracted another healthy crowd which showed its appreciation for a superb and sportingly contested match – a fine advert for the Elite League and the sport of cycle speedway.

Poole 91
Greg Gluchowski 19, Gavin Wheeler 17, Steve Harris 15+1, Aaron Smith 13+1, Hayden Chant 9+1, Dean Hook 8+1, Arron Morgan 8, Luke Armes 4.

Sheffield 86
Gavin Parr 15+2, Damien Zareba 15+2, Andy Angell 12+2, Bobby McMillan 12, Jake Read 11+1, Pawel Idziorek 11, Niall Morton 6+1, Adam Watson 4.