PIRATES skipper Darcy Ward admitted his grand final watching brief had been hard to take.

Ward played a pivotal role in Poole retaining their crown, notching 193 points from 19 meetings.

But his season was brought to a premature end after he had been provisionally suspended from all speedway following a failed alcohol breath test ahead of the Latvian Grand Prix in August.

Ward, who joined in with the celebrations following victory over Coventry, told the Daily Echo: “The team did a good job. In the final, it always comes down to just two meetings and anything can happen. As a Pirate, I was proud to see the boys get the job done and that is two in a row now.

“Once they had won, it was hard for me to celebrate because I should have been out there with them. But it is what it is and they went out there and still did the job so I was proud to be a part of it.

“For me, it was hard to compare it with last season because I didn’t feel as much a part of it so it was hard to judge it the same way.”

Ward, whose disciplinary hearing is expected to take place next month, added: “Nearly every year, the Pirates have been up and down with full-team strength and everything like that.

"But when it comes to the finals, we are always there or thereabouts so it was a good job. It is always a tough night but we are the champions again so well done to the team.

“I would like to think we would have a strong team next year. I have spoken to Matt a couple of times and he has said some things and it sounds good.”