FURIOUS Eastbourne team manager Jon Cook launched a scathing attack on Matt Ford after the RIAS Pirates boss had ordered his riders to pull up in heat 13. First Cook labelled Poole RIAS' 5-0 defeat in the race "a farce" over the centre green microphone before heat 15.

Then after the meeting had finished in a 51-44 win for his side, he added: "Matt is trying to defend the indefensible. No one else has done what he did.

"Yes the tactical rider rule is there. And I have been in situations of thinking of doing what he did but I didn't.

"I wouldn't say that I wouldn't ever do it because you want to win.

"But there is a time and a place for everything and it is obvious now that something needs to be looked at with this rule.

"The referees have got to be given the power to stop what happened tonight.

"I think the referee was put in a very awkward position which he handled very well.

"In fact Dale Entwistle took charge of a very volatile situation superbly.

"He did very well to keep control of an incident that could really have got out of hand." Cook added: "The Speedway Control Bureau should give referees the authority to award third place in the circumstances we saw.

"It is not the first time Poole have indulged in a painfully clear spot of gamesmanship or steely clear bending of the rules, depending on which way you look at it.

"There was a lot of ill feeling in the pits, that's all I can say. It is not something we want to see at speedway.

"I saw stewards separating fans on the terraces and that sort of incident has no place at speedway. It is totally wrong.

"The only losers are Eastbourne. We have had speedway fans seeing something that was just an absolute farce, even though it clearly added a lot of spectacle to the meeting.

"But if it costs us the bonus point we will be gutted.

"We are an improving team fighting for a play-off position while Poole are already in the play-offs.

"They might have set their stall on finishing in the top position, but we'll remember this.

"They are not due at Arlington again this season, but let's hope we improve, climb up the table and meet them in the play-offs.

"I'll give Matt some credit though.

"There comes a time when you can't defend the indefensible and at least he didn't try to do that when he went on the microphone and spoke to our crowd." Eastbourne are due to visit Poole on Wednesday, June 30 in the return B league fixture.