Pirates are “fight ready” after their Grand Final first leg loss to Oxford.

POOLE team boss Neil Middleditch said his side were “fight ready” after defeat in Oxford.

Wessex Marine Pirates lost 51-39 in the first leg of their Cab Direct Championship Grand Final in Cowley on Saturday evening.

This means the tie is well prepared for next Wednesday's decider at Wimborne Road.

With five races to go, Poole trailed by just four points but lost dramatically in the closing stages as experienced home duo Sam Masters and Scott Nicholls scored massive 5-1 successes in heats 13 and 15.

(Image: Taylor Lanning) Middleditch admitted: “We let it slide a little bit. Sam and Scott are a killer couple.

“We knew we had to keep it as close as possible going into the last three heats because the guys here are really unhappy.

“I was happy with the first half dozen heats but obviously Oxford were always going to be tough here and give it their all.

“They are in the final for a reason and that is because they are a very good team and they proved that tonight.”

Everything seemed to be going according to plan for the Pirates as they defended themselves confidently in the early stages and were able to maintain the score at 15:15 after five races. Even though the home team finally broke the stalemate in the sixth round, a wonderful ride from Zach Cook in the seventh round, who overtook Nicholls, made the score 22:20.

The Cheetahs scored two more 5-1 scores and led by eight goals. However, Ben Cook and Tobias Thomsen delivered their own maximum in the 12th round and reduced the deficit to four.

(Image: Taylor Lanning) But then Masters and Nicholls made their final attack and ultimately extended the lead to 12 points.

However, Middleditch is expecting a big event in Dorset.

He added: “We had a few guys like Ben (Cook) and Tom (Brennan) who were off. But that can happen and they will fight on Wednesday.

“We need to hit the ground running at Wimborne Road, hit them hard early and look to exploit their lead.

“At the moment we are with our heads down but that will change after tonight and we will focus on getting the job done in the second leg.

“The boys know what they have to do. They will be eager to make amends and change the situation. We are ready for battle.

(Image: Taylor Lanning) “We are used to the big nights at Wimborne Road. They are special occasions and the audience gets involved and they are always our eighth man. I expect that again.

“It has the best conditions to once again be a great occasion and an unforgettable evening.”

OXFORD 51: Dan Gilkes: 8+1; Cameron Heeps: 6+0; Jody Scott: 2+1; Sam Masters: 12+3; Luke Killeen: 12+1; Scott Nicholls: 10+1; Ashton Boughen: 1+1.

POOLE 39: Richard Lawson: 8; Zach Cook: 9+1; Ben Cook: 7+1; Vinnie Foord: 5+0; Tom Brennan: 4+1; Tobias Thomsen: 4+1; Sam Hagon: 2+1.