GARRY May cut a frustrated figure after Buccaneers ended their existence embroiled in a rule-book row.

Bournemouth Castle Cover brought down the curtain on a dramatic two years by crashing out of the National League play-off semi-final 94-79 with just five riders.

May’s men were beaten 45-41 by Newport in Sunday’s second leg after arriving at Queensway Meadow with Ritchie Worrall and Brandon Freemantle declared at reserve as no guest or rider replacement facility was allowed.

But the meeting referee ruled that as Worrall had ridden for Newport the previous Sunday, he was ineligible under the 180-hour rule.

May believed that as Worrall was not being used as a guest, the 180-hour rule should not have come into the equation but the Buccaneers boss was over-ruled, leaving him with just five riders as he was already using rider replacement for injured James Brundle.

May, who was forced to use just one rider in three of Sunday’s heats, said: “I spent a long time trying to argue the point with the referee and the powers-that-be but in the end I was forced to field just five riders.

“It’s so frustrating. In the first leg Newport rode with what can at best be described as an ‘over-strength’ side and effectively got away with it. I was trying to put a legitimate six-man side on track and was prevented in doing so and also face a fine for fielding an under-strength team.

“It’s ridiculous. I felt that some people just didn’t want to see Bournemouth in the final again and it is a shame that the association with the Bournemouth Buccaneers had to finish in this manner.”