PIRATES need their supporters to be their eighth man on track as they aim to turnaround a 12-point deficit in the Championship Grand Final against Oxford tonight.

Poole promoter Danny Ford has issued a rallying cry to Pirates fans to come down to Wimborne Road, after Oxford beat them 51-39 on Saturday.

Pirates looked to be neck and neck with their hosts with three heats to go, with just four points separating the sides.

But Oxford pulled away with 5-1 victories in the 13th and 15th heats, thanks to Sam Masters and Scott Nicholls.

Reflecting on the meeting, Ford told the Daily Echo: “We're all disappointed.

“You feel at Oxford, you're doing a really good job, we're keeping things close going into the final three heats, I think we were only four points down and we were quite happy.

“But it gives you a false bit of hope because they're incredibly strong in heats 13 and 15 with Sam Masters and Scott Nicholls, and that killed us a little bit.

“We would have been happy to keep it under double figures, the disadvantage. But twelve is certainly not undoable, but we've certainly left ourselves with a lot to do.”

(Image: Taylor Lanning) Ford’s message to the Pirates seven for Wednesday’s meeting will be clear – hit them hard from the first heat.

“We did really well at Oxford to keep things close early on,” he said.

“Unfortunately, we fell away towards the end of the meeting.

“We've got to get that disadvantage down or the difference down as quickly as possible, and that starts from heat one.

“The boys will know what they’ve got to do. They've done it, they've been fantastic at Wimborne Road most of the season.

“It's difficult, once they're on track, there's not a lot we can do. It's out of our hands.

“We're just doing our best to provide a good racing surface that is consistent to what we've been used to all season. And we’ve just got to communicate as much as possible, keep an eye on track conditions as it changes throughout the night.

“Hopefully that will keep us there or thereabouts.”

(Image: Taylor Lanning) Calling all Pirates fans to Wimborne Road to show their support, Ford said: “We need the supporters to be the 8th man on track.

“Their support means everything. When the guys come out to the starting tapes and they can hear the roar of the grandstand, that will give them that extra little bit of boost.

“It's going to be a fantastic meeting one way or another.

“Whatever the result is, I think it's going to come down to the final few heats.

“So, we just need that extra little push from our supporters who have been fantastic all season, but we certainly need them now more than ever if we're going to have any chance of winning the title.”

The Grand Final second leg gets underway at 7.30pm on Wednesday, October 9. 

Poole (Team manager Neil Middleditch): 1: Richard Lawson; 2: Sam Hagon; 3: Ben Cook (Capt); 4: Zach Cook; 5: Tom Brennan; 6: Tobias Thomsen; 7: Vinnie Foord.

Oxford (Team manager Peter Schroeck): 1: Sam Masters; 2: Dan Gilkes (Guest); 3: Aston Boughen; 4: Cameron Heeps; 5: Scott Nicholls (Capt); 6: Luke Killeen; 7: Jody Scott (Guest).