A QUICK compare and contrast exercise.

Poole reserve riders Daniel Davidsson and Krzysztof Kasprzak. Total points accumulated in their side's defeat of Peterborough last night - 15 paid 18.

Peterborough reserve riders Darius Sledz and Ricky Ashworth. Total points accumulated in their side's loss to Poole last night - err, zero.

There were many good reasons for the resounding Pirates victory which took them 10 points clear at the top of the Elite League, but the extra clout they had in reserve was as important as any.

Admittedly, Sledz was making his Wimborne Road debut and Ashworth endured a night to forget, but the home pairing put in eye-catching displays to back up a solid all-round team effort and see the hosts comfortably to a bonus point.

There was a hint that skipper Magnus Zetterstrom may have just run himself out of his barren streak too as he picked up a welcome five paid six return and showed signs the Zorro confidence is seeping back. The dirty dancing was back which always bodes well!

In a match never less than absorbing, and often hugely entertaining, RIAS Pirates did well to resist the heavy pressure maintained for long spells by a Panthers side rich in Poole track experience.

Both Lukas and Ales Dryml reminded home fans of their considerable talents while Gary Havelock was out to remind Great Britain boss Neil Middleditch that he can play a part in the forthcoming World Cup.

Up to heat nine, there was no more than seven points between the two sides and a repeat of the last-heat drama of the A fixture at Wimborne Road in May looked a distinct possibility.

But a crucial 5-1 from star man Bjarne Pedersen and a revitalised Zetterstrom in heat 10, with a thankful nod to an Ales Dryml mechanical failure, put Middleditch's side firmly in the box seat.

Until then, the Panthers had more than held their own. Guest Hans Andersen added his weight to the Dryml and Havvy onslaught and between them, scrapped for every point going.

Havelock snatched a second from Zetterstrom in the first heat, Andersen just failed to take Ryan Sullivan in a heat four thriller and Ales Dryml reeled in Davidsson to take the three points in race seven.

But you always sensed there was more in reserve for Poole, and in more ways than one, there was.

Pedersen missed his chance of a maximum but had enough to overhaul Havelock in a titanic heat 13 struggle.

An exuberant Kasprzak found phenomenal speed to tear to a heat 12 success and Davidsson then gleefully followed new Grand Prix star Antonio Lindback home in heat 14 to finally put the match out of sight.

Former Poole rider Steve Schofield returned to Wimborne Road to be presented with a donation from the British Heart Foundation.

The Poole-based Rider Equipment Fund will be holding their annual evening cruise around Poole Harbour tomorrow.

The boat departs Poole Quay at 7.30pm and tickets are £10 for adults, £5 for children and are available from Stan Vatcher on 01202 691143.

HEAT DETAILS

Pirates: 1 B Pedersen (3-3-3-2-3) 14, 2 M Zetterstrom (0-1-2-2*) 5+1, 3 M Ferjan (3-0-1*-2*) 6+2, 4 A Lindback (0-1-2-3) 6, 5 R Sullivan (3-1*-3-0) 7+1, 6 D Davidsson (3-2-0-2*) 7+1, 7 K Kasprzak (2*-1-1*-3-1) 8+2.

Team manager: Neil Middleditch

Peterborough: 1 G Havelock (2-3-1-2-0) 8, 2 L Dryml (1*-2*-3-4-2) 12+2, 3 H Bager (1*-0-1-1) 3+1, 4 A Dryml (2-3-ret-0) 5, 5 H Andersen (2-2-3-3-2) 12, 6 D Sledz (ret-0-ret-) 0, 7 R Ashworth (ex-0-0-0) 0.

Team manager: Trevor Swales

Match referee: Frank Ebdon Heat 1: Pedersen, Havelock, L Dryml, Zetterstrom, 58.33 (3-3) Heat 2: (re-run) Davidsson, Kasprzak, Sledz (ret), Ashworth (ex), 59.99 (8-3) Heat 3: Ferjan, A Dryml, Bager, Lindback (15m), 59.48 (11-6) Heat 4: Sullivan, Andersen, Kasprzak, Ashworth, 58.90 (15-8) Heat 5: Havelock, L Dryml, Lindback, Ferjan, 59.54 (16-13) Heat 6: Pedersen, Andersen, Zetterstrom, Sledz, 58.70 (20-15) Heat 7: A Dryml, Davidsson, Sullivan, Bager, 59.15 (23-18) Heat 8: L Dryml, Zetterstrom, Kasprzak, Ashworth, 59.97 (26-21) Heat 9: (re-run) Andersen, Lindback, Ferjan, Sledz (ret), 59.06 (29-24) Heat 10: Pedersen, Zetterstrom, Bager, A Dryml (ret), 59.61 (34-25) Heat 11: Sullivan, L Dryml, Havelock, Davidsson, 59.48 (37-30) Heat 12: Kasprzak, Ferjan, Bager, Ashworth, 60.32 (42-31) Heat 13: Andersen, Pedersen, Havelock, Sullivan, 59.81 (44-36) Heat 14: Lindback, Davidsson, Andersen, A Dryml, 59.51 (49-38) Heat 15: (re-run) Pedersen, L Dryml, Kasprzak, Havelock, 59.61 (53-40)