PIRATES skipper Ben Cook said the Championship Grand Final against Oxford was a ‘war’ and an ‘arm wrestle’ as Poole emerged victorious to take the title.

The early stages of the second leg at Wimborne Road against Oxford Cheetahs proved to be dramatic as the first three went to re-runs after crashes.

Oxford extended their 12-point lead in the first, as Richard Lawson was excluded, before Pirates took the second and third 5-1 and 4-2.

The hosts kept chipping away at the deficit and levelled the meeting in the ninth, and mathematically secured the title in the 14th.

(Image: Richard Crease) Reflecting on the victory, Cook told the Daily Echo: “We had a big hill to climb.

“We knew we could do it for sure, but we all dug deep.

“Everyone wanted it as much as each other, which is what you need in the team and can't fault the boys at all.

“We hit the ground running, which is what we had to do. And we've worked hard all year to be here, so we didn't want to fall short again. So, we've completed what we wanted.”

On his message to the riders before the meeting, Cook said: “There were a few words, a few of the boys have struggled, it's time to man up, and they did.

“So, I can't fault any of the boys. They stepped up tonight and showed that they wanted it, and we got the job done.”

(Image: Richard Crease) On the dramatic start, Cook said it was a war and that the Pirates side kept regrouping after each race to keep their momentum.

“It was crucial to make starts tonight,” the Australian said.

“We were, to be honest, which was good team riding, and we just knew we had to keep chipping away at 15 heats, so we didn't have to do nothing stupid and chipping away, and we got the job done before the end and glad it didn't have to be a last heat decider.”

After the ninth, Oxford regained their lead in the tenth and maintained it in the 11th.

Cook said this period of the meeting was a bit of an arm wrestle as Pirates aimed to get themselves four points in front and keep Oxford there.

(Image: Richard Crease) They managed to do that, and Cook’s brother Zach secured the hosts the title in the 14th through a 4-2 victory with Tobias Thomsen.

On the emotions when Zach crossed the line, Cook said: “[It was a] bit of relief, to be honest.

“The boys knew what they had to do, a 4-2 would do it, so nothing stupid.

“I told Tobi, if he's in third, don't do anything silly, just stay there and get the job done. And that's what they did.

(Image: Richard Crease) “As a captain, we've done the two. The treble is what we're after next, and it's all sitting good.”

Pirates face the Cheetahs again in the KO Cup this week, beginning at Wimborne Road on Wednesday and culminating at Oxford on Thursday.