BUCCANEERS’ star Daniel Halsey has backed referee Christina Turnbull’s decision to exclude him from his second outing during their 55-40 home victory over Plymouth last night.

Some Bournemouth Castle Cover fans were disappointed the match official threw Halsey out of the re-run after he had gone down on the second bend in heat six.

But Halsey, who missed out on a 15-point paid maximum because of the decision, said: “The fall was definitely my fault.

“I went for a cutback (to try and dive under Plymouth’s Mark Simmonds on the first bend) and there was nothing there to hold me up.

“I just spun round and it was just one of those things, I was thrown off.

“I would have been happy if I had been put back in the re-run. I had my fingers crossed, but it wasn’t to be.”

After the fall, Halsey, who bagged two 5-1s with James Brundle as Buccaneers cruised to a comfortable 15-point success, ended up with 10 paid 12 from his other four outings, meaning he was unbeaten by an opponent except in race six.

Halsey capped a great individual performance by coming from behind to beat Simmonds and take the chequered flag in a nail-biting heat 15 victory.

The Buccaneer, whose side are now just one point adrift of a National League play-off place, said: “I missed the start but I made a good turn, cut back and got in front of him down the back straight.

“I knew he was close behind all the way during the rest of the race. I could certainly hear him, anyway!

“I had to ride a bit defensively but it was a great race. He is a fair rider. I knew he wouldn’t go for a gap that wasn’t there.”

Asked if he felt it had been his best display for Bournemouth since joining them over the winter from Rye House, Halsey said: “I have scored a paid maximum before (11 paid 12 at home to Scunthorpe in April) but it was against weaker opposition.

“Tonight I just felt a lot better on the bike and confident with my racing. I’m starting to feel confident again.

“It’s just good to win some races again. I still don’t feel I’m at my best, but I’m certainly getting better.

“I’ve also been getting on well with James with regard to our number one and two partnership since he has been here.

“The atmosphere is brilliant. We have a laugh in the pits and in the changing room.

“Nine times out of 10, I know he will get out of the start and be with me.

“Overall, I don’t feel I’ve ridden badly for Buccaneers this year, but I feel the managers would probably expect me to do more.

“I haven’t reached my expectations. I would certainly like to score more points, for me and the managers.”

Talking about his personal targets between now and the end of the season, Halsey added: “I just need to start piling the points up in this league then someone to give me a couple of guest outings in the Premier League.

“I feel I’m at least a Premier League reserve. If I can get back up to how I was riding at my best, there is no reason why I can’t hold down a Premier League spot.

“There are Premier League reserves, who you see scoring a few points, and I feel I’m as good as them, if not better. It’s all about confidence and it’s coming back slowly.”

Bournemouth’s triumph maintained their 100 per cent home winning record this term.

And, asked if fifth-placed Buccaneers could force their way into the top four play-offs, Halsey said: “Yes, especially with James here. We are definitely a top-four team.

“It we get through to the play-offs, there is no reason why we can’t go all the way.

“Over two legs, we can beat anyone, especially with me scoring points home and away.”

Bournemouth boss Garry May said, publicly, before Plymouth’s visit to Wimborne Road that he had been given permission to bring in new faces to strengthen his side if need be.

Halsey said: “We (the current riders) haven’t been told that, but we are aware Bournemouth- Poole is a big club.

“We know we have to reach our potential or new faces will come in through the door.

“I’m just glad I’m enjoying my racing again and we’ve got a good team spirit.

“I’d like to thank my dad, John, who is my mechanic.

“I’m very thankful for all the help he has given me this year.

“He works in a garage, and loves helping me out, but I wouldn’t be able to do this without him.”

Buccaneers 55: 1 James Brundle (3-3-3-3) 12, 2 Danny Halsey (2*-fell exc-3-2*-3) 10+2, 3 Karl Mason (1*-1-1*-3) 6+2, 4 Kyle Howarth (2-3-2-0) 7, 5 Mark Baseby (3-2-2-2*-ret) 9+1, 6 John Resch (2*-1*-1*-2) 6+3, 7 Aaron Baseby (3-1-1-0) 5. Team managers: Garry May and Neil Vatcher.

Plymouth 40: 1 Nicki Glanz (1-4^-3-0) 8, 2 David Gough (0-0-2-ret) 2, 3 Matt Bates (0-0-0-2) 2, 4 Seemond Stephens (3-3-1-6^-1*) 14+1, 5 Mark Simmonds (2-2-3-1-2) 10, 6 Jaimie Pickard (1-1*-0-1*-1) 4+2, 7 Ben Reade (0-0-0) 0. Team manager: Gary Spiller.

Referee: Christina Turnbull.

Match points: Buccaneers 3 Plymouth 0.

Ht 1: Brundle, Halsey, Glanz, Gough, 62.22 (5-1).

Ht 2: A Baseby, Resch, Pickard, Reade, 63.36 (10-2).

Ht 3: Stephens, Howarth, Mason, Bates, 63.30 (13-5).

Ht 4: M Baseby, Simmons, A Baseby, Reade, 61.83 (17-7).

Ht 5: Howarth, Glanz^ (tactical rider, double points), Mason, Gough, 62.89 (21-11).

Ht 6 (re-run) Brundle, Simmonds, Pickard, Halsey (fell excluded), 62.26 (24-14).

Ht 7: (re-run) Stephens, M Baseby, Resch, Bates, 62.03 (27-17).

Ht 8: Halsey, Gough, A Baseby, Pickard, 62.92 (31-19).

Ht 9: Simmonds, Howarth, Mason, Reade, 62.36 (34-22).

Ht 10: Brundle, Halsey, Stephens, Bates, 62.32 (39-23).

Ht 11: Glanz, M Baseby, Resch, Gough (retired), 62.48 (42-26).

Ht 12: Mason, Bates, Pickard, A Baseby, 63.38 (45-29).

Ht 13: Brundle, M Baseby, Simmonds, Glanz, 62.63 (50-30).

Ht 14: Stephens^ (tactical rider, double points), Resch, Pickard, Howarth, 63.18 (52-37).

Ht 15: Halsey, Simmonds, Stephens, M Baseby (retired), 63.05 (55-40).