NEXT UP FOR PIRATES TV - THE 2004 GRAND FINAL SECOND LEG

17/04/20

Defending league titles is no easy task in speedway and when you find yourselves having to relinquish a rider of the quality of Leigh Adams and just thirteen matches in, nine of which were league encounters, the brilliant Tony Rickardsson decides to step down, the defence becomes that much more challenging.

Adams had been recalled by his parent club Swindon and the Pirates opted for Jason Lyons as a surprise replacement. Likewise there were a few raised eyebrows when it was announced Ryan Sullivan was the chosen one to step into Rickardsson's boots.

But the Pirates are nothing if not resilient and by the completion of the 36 league fixtures they had topped the standings, an achievement which included Antonio Lindback celebrating his 19th birthday with a paid maximum at Oxford on May 5th to send them into pole position, a placing they didn’t relinquish and which sent them straight to the play-off Grand Final.

The quarter finals were contested by second-placed Wolverhampton facing Oxford (5th) and Ipswich and Eastbourne, third and fourth respectively.

Both Wolves and Ipswich negotiated that hurdle and in a nail-biting semi-final (only one leg) they could only be split by Mikael Max beating Hans Andersen in a dramatic run-off to set-up a two-legged encounter against the Pirates.

Just as they had done in their second league visit to Monmore Green of the campaign the Pirates ran out victors of the first leg by 49-41, this time they had their 2003 hero Leigh Adams guesting due to Sullivan's absence.

So with one hand on the trophy, for another season, the Pirates entertained the Wolves at Wimborne Road on October 11th with the emphasis being on avoiding complacency. Sullivan was back for the team. Could they defend that eight point lead or were Wolverhampton about to destroy the dream of back-to-back titles?
On Wednesday 22nd April 2020 you can enjoy this second-leg thanks to the services of speedwayportal.com in association with Pirates TV, in the next of our special Wednesday features, bringing you the action whilst you observe the Covid-19 lockdown.