Pirates: Ward to miss grand final (updated)

7:20pm Sunday 21st October 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Neil Meldrum

DARCY Ward has been ruled out of tomorrow's Elite League Grand Final second leg after sustaining a head injury in a fight outside a Dorset pub.

Pirates boss Neil Middleditch today reported that Poole's number one rider had undergone a brain scan after being hospitalised following the incident in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Ward, who missed last night's Elite League Riders' Championship at Swindon, suffered a "bleed on his brain" confirmed Middleditch.

The 20-year-old will now be replaced by guest Niels Kristian Iversen when Pirates defend their title against Swindon Robins at Wimborne Road.

Poole team manager Middleditch initially tweeted: "Darcy was beaten up by some mindless moron. Being treated in hospital. It was an unprovoked attack. Tweet when I know more."

Speaking to the Daily Echo this morning, Middleditch said he, Ward and a number of Pirates people had attended a pub following the postponement of the grand final second leg on Friday.

Middleditch claimed Ward was “attacked” and reported he was still in hospital. Pirates promoter Ford later told the Echo the Australian was due to be discharged from hospital tomorrow morning.

Middleditch said: “We had gone down to a pub. There was me, Matt, his partner, my wife Suzi, Chris (Holder) and Sealy (Middleton, Holder’s girlfriend). We all went to leave and the next thing we heard Darcy had been attacked.

“I wasn’t there but he was taken to hospital, he has had a brain scan and I am going down to see him this afternoon, so I will know more this afternoon.”

Police confirmed this morning that they were called to a fight outside the Churchill Arms in Sturminster Marshall at 1.20am on Saturday.

A spokesman said injuries were minor and no complaints had been made.

Iversen will stand in for Ward in the second leg clash against Swindon and he has also been put on standby for Pirates' Knockout Cup fixtures next week.

Meanwhile, Pirates' newly-crowned world champion Holder added another trophy to his cabinet after storming to victory in the riders' championship at Blunsdon.

Comments(17)

Roband65 says...
12:23pm Sun 21 Oct 12

He was beaten up apparently and receiving hospital treatment!

Report this post »

pete woodley says...
12:38pm Sun 21 Oct 12

Pub open at 1.20 am,or did they have a "lockin"

Report this post »

gameon says...
1:23pm Sun 21 Oct 12

pete woodley wrote:
Pub open at 1.20 am,or did they have a "lockin"
No they were training for the Elite league riders Championship later on at Swindon along with Middleditch Holder ,and Matt Ford very good for the name of the sport, a P ss up a punch up and out drinking at 1 20 am with a big meeting a few hours later its only the same old locals that go in that dive so there known to middlo and co.

Report this post »

oldlegtrailer says...
3:54pm Sun 21 Oct 12

Its only a ploy to lure Swindon into a false sense of security. Darcy will be there at No 1 - he could not suffer brain damage.
This shows why speedway is such a low key sport even the so say the best riders are out of the pee late at night before the biggest British meeting of the season.See a F1 driver doing this

Report this post »

Reginald says...
5:22pm Sun 21 Oct 12

The police class injuries that require a brain scan and 3 nights in hospital as "minor"?

Report this post »

peterbond038 says...
6:51pm Sun 21 Oct 12

sounds like a right mess with lack of security which could cost poole the elite league championship thats the bottom line if ward dosnt recover in time to take part tomorrow nite

Report this post »

Dibbles2 says...
6:56pm Sun 21 Oct 12

Perhaps a bit of repsect for the fans who have now spent two afternoons queuing at the gate, time off work, rain etc third time tomorrow for what looks to be a wipeout by Swindon now Holder is out of the running. Agree with others. Shouldnt have been out on the lash before a big meet! I love Speedway but am now fuming.

Report this post »

Dibbles2 says...
6:58pm Sun 21 Oct 12

Darcy Ward even!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!11

Report this post »

gameon says...
7:31pm Sun 21 Oct 12

oldlegtrailer wrote:
Its only a ploy to lure Swindon into a false sense of security. Darcy will be there at No 1 - he could not suffer brain damage.
This shows why speedway is such a low key sport even the so say the best riders are out of the pee late at night before the biggest British meeting of the season.See a F1 driver doing this
Wards out allright But the question is the total unproffessional attitude by Ford and Middleditch to be out drinking in the local dive with Teamriders be it Holder and Ward or any of them there is obviously no regard for the name of POOLE PIRATES the Fans in fact the name of Speedway comes into question when hours before a very big meeting and a Final on Monday they deem with there selfish attitudes to go out on the P ss and encourage there team members to go with them all the crap middleditch is coming out with involving the wives and girl friends were with us trying to soften the story that it was just a cosy little evening up the local Pub Rubbish if we get beat by the Robins on Monday the blame will fall on there shoulders not that they give a toss only what comes through the gate in terms of there God MONEY

Report this post »

thereader says...
7:54pm Sun 21 Oct 12

You really think the Poole fans are at first thought whenever a team-member decides to do something? These people have lives outside of there profession! It doesn't all revolve around Poole! Darcy had commitments he couldn't fulfil elsewhere today due to what happened.



And you honestly think the management of Poole Speedway want to put something they have been working for all season in jeopardy now? If so - what kind of fan are you?

Report this post »

Telscombe Cliffy says...
7:58pm Sun 21 Oct 12

It doesn't say anywhere in the article that the riders were drinking alcohol.

Report this post »

boby says...
9:39pm Sun 21 Oct 12

It's starting to sound like a broken record. Sounds like darcy seems to have bad luck where ever he goes???. I feel a bit embarrassed , having to explain to my partner what goes on in the sport . Oh dear, feel sorry for all the loyal supporters and youngsters that follow the sport. Don't know whether I want to go Tommorow abd be associated with this .

Report this post »

gameon says...
9:48pm Sun 21 Oct 12

Telscombe Cliffy wrote:
It doesn't say anywhere in the article that the riders were drinking alcohol.
Oh dear silly me No of course not they were in the Churchill Arms Pub at 1.20am Saturday morning having Tea and Cakes when the unexplained fight ensued .

Report this post »

mikek says...
10:15pm Sun 21 Oct 12

It seems Chris Holder has injured his ankle in Poland in their play offs and is in doubt for Monday's final. Blimey talk about bad luck. I personally do not agree with the play offs as after a whole season of matches it comes down to two one off matches and as it is turning out both Ward and Holder could be missing which makes the whole thing a farce. Swindon finished Top of the pile a few seasons ago only to loose in the final to Wolves which meant the whole season counted for nothing. By all means have some end of season challenge but to win the league by finishing say fourth is not what its should all be about.

Report this post »

HRH of Boscombe says...
10:26pm Sun 21 Oct 12

Reginald wrote:
The police class injuries that require a brain scan and 3 nights in hospital as "minor"?
Murder will be a minor crime in a few years the way they keep reclassifying crimes to improve stats

Report this post »

thereader says...
10:54pm Sun 21 Oct 12

Holder declares himself fit via personal Twitter feed.

Report this post »

pete woodley says...
4:18pm Mon 22 Oct 12

Stories not clear,Neil said he was leaving the pub then heard Darcy had been attacked,Neil then says he was not there.If Darcy was attacked outside pub,then the rest would see him as they left pub,or did they all take off.report does not seem right ?.

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree