NEIL Middleditch watched his side pay back with interest rivals Wolverhampton and then admitted: “We really needed a win.”

Pirates, thumped 55-38 at Monmore Green on Monday, returned the favour with a 55-35 triumph at Wimborne Road on Wednesday. 

Middleditch told the Daily Echo: “We got mauled at Wolverhampton and really needed a win. I was so pleased with the way the boys bounced back and even more so with the manner of the performance. 

“The riders get down when you’re having a bad time and it is my job to try and pick them up. That can be hard sometimes so the result was a big shot in the arm for everybody.

“You can feel it when you’re in a winning team, the atmosphere, the outlook, everything is completely different."

“We owe a big thank you to Bomber (Chris Harris) and Charles Wright for stepping in. They both racked up some great points for us to complement what was a good showing from our boys.

“Dak (North) was on fire and Kacper (Gomolski) was terrific despite taking a knock in his last ride.”