POOLE promoter Matt Ford admits he will have a keen eye on Darcy Ward’s comeback – fuelling speculation the Aussie ace could be set for a sensational Pirates return.

Ward, sidelined since fracturing his shoulder blade at the start of May, is set to put his fitness to the test when he lines up for Dackarna against Hammarby in the Swedish League tomorrow.

And the 21-year-old is also hoping to revive his World Championship challenge by taking his chance in the Danish Grand Prix in Copenhagan on Saturday.

Ward, who endured an indifferent start to the season, does not feature in the current Pirates line-up but recently expressed publicly his desire to win back his place.

Ford, speaking to the Daily Echo following Pirates’ 50-40 win at Belle Vue in the Elite League tonight, said: “I will be watching with interest to see how Darcy comes through. As I have said from day dot, if I need to juggle figures to bring back a fit-again Darcy then we would certainly be looking to do that.

“If he comes through tomorrow and again on Saturday and shows he is back on form and racing at the highest level then how on earth could you not consider putting him back in.”

Despite Pirates’ recent revival – with the win at Kirky Lane coming on the back of an emphatic victory at Eastbourne on Friday – Ford has said he is planning “one or two moves to strengthen the team”.

Injury-hit Pirates tracked no fewer than three guests against Belle Vue and were again forced to use the rider replacement facility.

Richie Worrall maintained his rich vein of form by scoring paid nine against the Aces, while Somerset’s Josh Grajczonek (12) and Redcar’s Micky Dyer (5+2) plundered no fewer than 17 points from the reserve berths.

Victory hoisted Pirates into sixth place in the Elite League with five points now separating them from fourth-placed King’s Lynn, who occupy the final play-off berth. Poole host Belle Vue on Wednesday when Dyer will again guest.

Ford added: “Our guests were again outstanding. In the past two meetings, Richie Worrall has been the catalyst and has given us a chance of moving up the league. He has been exceptional and is an incredibly good rider.

“Richie is the future of British speedway and both him and Josh Grajczonek are going to the very top of the sport. Our reserves delivered the goods and Micky also played his part.

“We need to learn and grow from our past two matches and we have given ourselves an outside chance of creeping into the play-offs. There is a long way to go but we have given ourselves a platform.”

Matej Zagar trapped sharply to take the opening heat with Pirates skipper Chris Holder recovering from a sluggish start to reel in Kevin Wolbert to claim second.

A tapes infringement saw Ulrich Ostergaard penalised 15 metres at the start of the second heat with Grajczonek and Dyer profiting to record a 5-1. The duo both got out ahead of Ales Dryml and then teamed up superbly to prevent the Aces man passing.

Craig Cook suffered the same handicap in heat three and, again, Pirates took full advantage with Worrall and Tungate registering a second successive maximum, their cause helped when Kauko Nieminen was disqualified following a nasty spill.

Former Wimborne Road favourite Magnus Zetterstrom helped Aces reduce the deficit to four points when he took the chequered flag in heat four. Grajczonek showed his mettle to pass Dryml, but Maciej Janowski trailed in a disappointing last.

An incident-packed fifth heat saw Tungate surrender the lead after taking a tumble on turn two of the final lap with Cook nipping in ahead to Holder to take the spoils as Aces clawed back to 16-14.

Zagar recorded his second win of the meeting in heat six, the Slovenian pegging back Pirates pair Janowski and Dyer, with Poole’s guest from Redcar digging deep to beat Wolbert for third.

Janowski, who had ridden somewhat gingerly in his first two races, quickly pulled clear and never looked like being headed as he coasted to a facile win in heat seven with the points shared as Worrall was the whipper-in.

Although Wolbert was victorious in heat eight, Grajczonek and Tungate combined well to ease Dryml out of the points at the first turn before Janowski held off Cook in the next as Pirates edged 29-25 in front with Dyer coming home third.

Holder carded his first win of the night in heat 10 and also ruined Zagar’s 100 per cent record with Worrall following home the Pirates skipper as the visitors forged 34-26 ahead thanks to their classy 5-1.

Zetterstrom pounced to win heat 11 after Grajczonek had led for three laps before Worrall, who gated smartly, managed to keep Cook behind him in the next as Pirates picked up a 4-2 after Dyer had beaten Dryml for third.

Holder ensured heat 13 would be a procession, leading from start to finish, but Janowski struggled as Zetterstrom and Zagar banked a 3-3 for the Aces. Grajczonek completed a splendid night’s work when he took his tally to 12 points by winning heat 14 before Holder put the icing on the cake with victory in the finale.

RIDERS’ SCORES AND HEAT DETAILS

Belle Vue 40: 1 Matej Zagar (3-3-1-1*-1*) 9+2, 2 Kevin Wolbert (1-0-3-0) 4, 3 Craig Cook (1-3-2-2) 8, 4 Kauko Nieminen (fx-1-0-1*) 2+1, 5 Magnus Zetterstrom (3-1*-3-2-2) 11+1, 6 Ulrich Ostergaard (0-2-0-2) 4, 7 Ales Dryml (1-1-0-0) 2. Team manager: Jason Attwood.

Pirates 50: 1 Chris Holder (2-2-3-1*-3-3) 14+1, 2 Rohan Tungate (0-2*-fell-1*) 3+2, 3 Rider replacement, 4 Richie Worrall (3-0-2*-3-0) 8+1, 5 Maciej Janowski (0-2-3-3-0-0) 8, 6 Micky Dyer (2*-1*-1-1) 5+2, 7 Josh Grajczonek (3-2-2-2-3) 12. Team manager: Neil Middleditch.

Ht 1: Zagar, Holder, Wolbert, Tungate, 58.9 (2-4)

Ht 2: Grajczonek, Dyer, Dryml, Ostergaard (tapes, 15m), 60.1 (7-5)

Ht 3: Worrall, Tungate, Cook (tapes, 15m), Nieminen (fell/dsq), 60.7 (12-6)

Ht 4: Zetterstrom, Grajczonek, Dryml, Janowski, 60.8 (14-10)

Ht 5: Cook, Holder, Nieminen, Tungate (fell) 60.2 (16-14)

Ht 6: Zagar, Janowski, Dyer, Wolbert, 59.5 (19-17)

Ht 7: Janowski, Ostergaard, Zetterstrom, Worrall, 60.3 (22-20)

Ht 8: Wolbert, Grajczonek, Tungate, Dryml, 60.4 (25-23)

Ht 9: Janowski, Cook, Dyer, Nieminen, 59.9 (29-25)

Ht 10: Holder, Worrall, Zagar, Wolbert, 59.7 (34-26)

Ht 11: Zetterstrom, Grajczonek, Holder, Ostergaard, 60.3 (37-29)

Ht 12: Worrall, Cook, Dyer, Dryml, 60.4 (41-31)

Ht 13: Holder, Zetterstrom, Zagar, Janowski, 59.9 (44-34)

Ht 14: Grajczonek, Ostergaard, Nieminen, Worrall, 60.5 (47-37)

Ht 15: Holder, Zetterstrom, Zagar, Janowski, 60.0 (50-40)