VICTORIOUS promoter Matt Ford remained adamant that Poole Pirates’ semi-final second leg against King’s Lynn should have been called off after 10 heats.

Ford vehemently remonstrated towards Christina Turnbull in the referee’s box once the 10th heat – the stage at which the result stands – had finished as heavy rain began to lash down at Wimborne Road.

Poole were three points to the good on aggregate at that point but Turnbull continued before briefly suspending the action after heat 11 as an incensed home crowd began to make their feelings known.

Surprisingly, the meeting resumed and Pirates went on to win 47-43 on the night and 92-87 across the two legs after all 15 heats were completed in treacherous conditions.

While the result still went in Pirates’ favour, setting up a Grand Final date against Coventry with the away leg scheduled for tomorrow, Ford felt rider safety had been compromised by racing right to the end.

Ford told the Daily Echo: “There was an amount of frustration when the weather turned but whichever side had been winning would probably have felt that it should have ended in those circumstances.

“I certainly know riders on both teams who would not normally participate in those conditions. It’s funny what a play-off semi-final does to you, it makes you put a few more things at risk.

“I do believe it should have been called off before the end. We’re not moaning about it but I think it wasn’t in anyone’s best interests to keep going in those conditions.

“I keep hearing time and time again, that rider safety is paramount yet I see them putting themselves on the line like that. I find that a bit of a shame when we call meetings off in far better conditions.”

Turnbull politely declined to comment directly on why the meeting was not called off before the end, but said: “It was a difficult night and the conditions were very testing for everybody.

“The riders deserve a lot of credit for coming out and racing the way they did. The track officials did a magnificent job because the surface withstood a lot of rain. Everyone should be congratulated.”

Meanwhile, Ford confirmed that Troy Batchelor and Danny King would guest for Poole at Coventry tomorrow. Vaclav Milik is due back for the meeting with his commitments in the Czech Republic cancelled.

Ford is still sweating on the fitness of reserve Benji Compton.