ANDREW Aldridge paid tribute to Jay Herne after Buccaneers’ captain kept cool to split the home pair in a last-heat decider and earn Bournemouth their first away league win tonight.

Unfortunately for the New Zealander, who scored 10 paid 12, he had a back seat view of a dramatic race as he was last away from the gate and trailed in last.

He could only watch as previously unbeaten Herne, who had already reeled off five successive race wins on his way to 17, flew out from the tapes in front as his side led 47-43 going into the finale.

But the Australian was passed on the outside by Cobras spearhead Danny Halsey on the second bend and then had to work hard to peg Jamie Courtney behind him for the rest of the race.

Halsey even slowed on purpose while in front on the third and fourth laps to try and hold up Herne so that Courtney could find a way past.

Buccaneers’ skipper was having none of it though.

He retained his nerve, hugged the white line to stay in second place and grabbed the two points that sealed Bournemouth’s win – their first away three-pointer in the National League.

It means the Dorset side have won their opening two league matches to leap up to fourth in the table, nine points behind leaders Weymouth but with three matches in hand.

And Bournemouth will be looking to dig into that deficit when they host Wildcats at Poole on Thursday.

Aldridge, the former Rye House rider, said: “I wanted to do well in heat 15 but unfortunately I missed the gate and could only watch from behind.

“Jay rode perfectly. You couldn’t ask for a better person in the team, and he is a wonderful captain.

“He gives us a great team spirit, so for him to get the two points we needed in that race was awesome.

“It shows he deserves to be captain and our number one rider.”

Heat details

Rye House 47: 1 Danny Halsey (fell exc-6^-3-2-3) 14, 2 Mike Bovis (1-fell exc-1-ret) 2, 3 Jamie Courtney (3-0-6^-3-1) 13, 4 Rob Smith (0-2-2*-3) 7+1, 5 Lee Strudwick (fell exc-fell exc-1*-1*) 2+2, 6 Daniel Blake (2-2-2-fell-2*) 8+1, 7 Ben Morley (fell exc-1-0) 1. Team manager: Len Silver.

Buccaneers 49: 1 Jay Herne (3-3-3-3-3-2) 17, 2 Rider replacement for Luke Priest, 3 Andrew Aldridge (2*-1*-3-2-2-0) 10+2, 4 Mark Baseby (2-1-1-1*-0) 5+1, 5 Kyle Newman (2*-2-1-0) 5+1, 6 Aaron Baseby (3-3-2*-0-1*-1) 10+2, 7 John Resch (1-1*-0) 2+1. Team managers: Garry May and Neil Vatcher.

Referees: Tony Steele.

Ht 1: (re-run) Herne, Aldridge, Bovis, Halsey (fell excluded), 58.6 (1-5).

Ht 2: (2nd re-run) A Baseby, Blake, Resch (tapes offence, re-started off 15 metres handicap), Morley (fell excluded), 60.0 (3-9).

Ht 3: Courtney, M Baseby, Aldridge, Smith (fell, remounted), 59.3 (6-12).

Ht 4: A Baseby, Newman, Morley, Strudwick (fell excluded), awarded, no time (7-17).

Ht 5: (re-run) Herne, Smith, M Baseby, Courtney, 59.9 (9-21).

Ht 6: Halsey^ (tactical rider, double points), Newman, Resch (fell, remounted), Bovis (fell excluded), awarded, no time (15-24).

Ht 7: (re-run) Aldridge, Blake, M Baseby, Strudwick (fell excluded), 59.2 (17-28).

Ht 8: Herne, A Baseby, Bovis, Morley, 59.8 (18-33).

Ht 9: Courtney^ (tactical rider, double points), Smith, Newman, Resch, 59.5 (26-34).

Ht 10: Halsey, Aldridge, M Baseby, Bovis (retired), 59.7 (29-37).

Ht 11: (re-run) Herne, Blake, Strudwick, A Baseby, 59.8 (32-40).

Ht 12: Courtney, Aldridge, A Baseby, Blake (fell), 59.6 (35-43).

Ht 13: Herne, Halsey, Strudwick, Newman, 59.6 (38-46).

Ht 14: Smith, Blake, A Baseby, M Baseby (fell, remounted), 59.3 (43-47).

Ht 15: Halsey, Herne, Courtney, Aldridge, 60.4 (47-49).