KYLE Newman waged a one-man war as Pirates qualified for the Elite League play-offs courtesy of a 45-45 draw at Lakeside.

Benji Compton’s early withdrawal with a broken finger meant Newman’s workload was increased, a turn of events which appeared to play into the visitors’ hands.

The 22-year-old reserve ended the night with a magnificent 14 paid 16 to inspire Poole’s comeback from eight points down.

Pirates might even have won the meeting outright given that they were 44-40 up heading into heat 15, but Maciej Janowski’s fall proved crucial in the final reckoning.

The visitors tracked guests Peter Kildemand and Cameron Woodward in the continued absence of the suspended Darcy Ward and the injured Shamek Pawlicki.

Lakeside had a guest of their own in the form of Aaron Summers, who took the place of the unavailable Kim Nilsson.

Following a shared opener, Pirates suffered a blow when Compton fell unchallenged and soon withdrew from the meeting.

Lakeside registered a 5-1 on the re-run and then a tapes violation by Vaclav Milik helped the hosts gain another maximum in heat three.

Poole pulled it back to 14-10 thanks to a dogged effort from Newman, the youngster holding off Lewis Bridger for second as Woodward triumphed.

The next two outings were shared and then Newman’s fourth ride in seven heats resulted in his first win as the visitors reduced the deficit to two points.

Bridger and Richard Lawson hit back with a 4-2 before Newman took himself into double figures with a gate to flag success in a three-man heat.

Heat 10 resulted in a 3-3 and it was the same story next time out, before the flying duo of Woodward and Newman racked up a 5-1 to level the meeting.

Janowski and Kildemand then piled on the pressure with a further maximum before the penultimate heat was shared.

There was still time for drama in heat 15 when Janowski was excluded and Kildemand, after initially leading the re-run, had to push his bike over the line to ensure Poole grabbed a draw. 

Hammers 45: 1 Davey Watt (3-3-3-r) 9, 2 Aaron Summers, guest (0-2-0-0) 2, 3 Richard Lawson (2*-r-1-1*) 4+2, 4 Lewis Bridger (1-3-3-3-3) 13, 5 Danny King (3-f-2-1-2*) 8+1, 6 Ben Morley (3-0-2-1) 6, 7 Adam Ellis (2*-0-1*-f) 3+2. Team manager: Neil Vatcher.

Pirates 45: 1 Peter Kildemand, guest (1*-1*-3-2*-1) 8+3, 2 Cameron Woodward, guest (2-3-2-3) 10, 3 Vaclav Milik (t-2-0-1*) 3+1, 4 Josh Grajczonek (1*-1-0-1*) 3+2, 5 Maciej Janowski (0-2-2-3-f) 7, 6 Benji Compton (fx) 0, 7 Kyle Newman (1-1-2-3-3-2*-2*) 14+2. Team manager: Neil Middleditch.

Ht 1: Watt, Woodward, Kildemand, Summers, 57.8 (3-3)

Ht 2 (re-run): Morley, Ellis, Newman, Compton (fell/dsq), 60.3 (8-4)

Ht 3: King, Lawson, Newman (15m, tapes/ replaced Milik), Janowski, 58.9 (13-5)

Ht 4: Woodward, Newman, Bridger, Morley, 59.0 (14-10)

Ht 5: Watt, Milik, Grajczonek, King (fell), 59.4 (17-13)

Ht 6: Bridger, Janowski, Kildemand, Lawson (retired), 58.8 (20-16)

Ht 7: Newman, Summers, Grajczonek, Ellis, 60.5 (22-20)

Ht 8: Bridger, Woodward, Lawson, Milik, 58.8 (26-22)

Ht 9: Newman, Morley, Ellis, 60.5 (29-25)

Ht 10: Watt, Janowski, Milik, Summers, 59.3 (32-28)

Ht 11: Kildemand, King, Lawson, Grajczonek, 59.5 (35-31)

Ht 12: Woodward, Newman, Morley, Summers, 59.5 (36-36)

Ht 13: Janowski, Kildemand, King, Watt (retired), 59.3 (37-41)

Ht 14: Bridger, Newman, Grajczonek, Ellis, 58.7 (40-44)

Ht 15 (re-run): Bridger, King, Kildemand, Janowski (fell/dsq), 61.2 (45-45)