FIGHT ON DARCY WARD

Hundreds of Poole fans literally got right behind the 'Ready Power' Pirates ahead of the defending league champions' final league match of the season and collectively showed their love and support for the injured Darcy Ward.

Prior to hosting Ward's present club Swindon at the Wimborne Road the fans were invited to join in a mass photo-shoot behind a banner that stretched round the first arc of the track which read "Fight On Darcy Ward You Will Always Be One Of Us #Pirate Pride #43DW".

The 2015 Pirates assembled in front of the banner for the photograph. During the interval of the meeting the crowd were addressed by Darcy's father George who was full of praise for the worldwide support that had been shown to his son.

"We all know that Darcy is no angel but he is Darcy Ward and he is fighting and knows that he has a terrific speedway family behind him. I have seen and heard so many fantastic things in the past few weeks that is a measure of the love  there is out there for Darcy,. He is in undoubtedly his toughest race ever but is determined to pull through this. He is in good spirits and I really can't thank everyone enough for what they have done for my boy. Chris Holder, well CH has been a true legend and Davey Watt too has been absolutely brilliant. The way everyone has pulled together has been fabulous and it means so much to me, his Mum, brother, uncle and everyone that is close to him."

George then proceeded to lead the crowd in a 43-second long chant of "Darcy Ward" that added high emotion to the occasion.

The meeting ended in a 45-all draw and with Poole chosing to take on Coventry in the semi-finals of the play-off the two sides that have been most affected by Ward's cruel accident could well meet again in the title decider.

The play-offs begin on Monday 14th September with Coventry hosting Poole and Belle Vue staging their semi-final first leg against Swindon. A week later (21st) the fixtures will be reversed with Coventry travelling to Dorset and Belle Vue visiting Swindon. The agggregate winners of the two ties will then meet in the final the first leg of which will be Monday 28th September with the concluding leg following 48 hours later on Wednesday 30th September.