PIRATES' in-form reserve Adam Ellis had to be content with third place in a fiercely-contested British under-21 final at Sheffield tonight.

Ringwood-based Ellis earned his spot in the closing showdown after scoring 13 points in his five qualifying rides, which included three heat wins.

But it was 2014 champion Josh Bates who held his nerve to take victory, with Great Britain international Robert Lambert second and Jack Parkinson-Blackburn fourth.

Ellis got off to a solid start when he notched two points in heat three, the Pirates reserve unable to find a route beyond Somerset's Zach Wajtknecht despite being on the back wheel of his rival throughout.

The 20-year-old followed that up with a from-the-gate victory over Bates – who was riding on home shale – with Max Clegg and Nathan Greaves well off the pace.

Ellis flew out of the traps against pre-event favourite Lambert in heat nine but was unable to retain his lead, the latter powering to the front on turn three and never looking in danger of relinquishing his advantage.

Pirates winter signing Ellis was soon back in command in his fourth programmed ride as he won an awarded heat brought about by the fall of Poole asset Ellis Perks, who was enduring a tough time.

Perks had been excluded for touching the tapes in his first outing and eventually finished the meeting on four points.

There were no such troubles for Ellis, who capped a fine string of qualifying rides by blasting from last to first in heat 20 to rubber-stamp his automatic passage to the final.

But despite getting away quickest, the Poole ace was reeled in by Bates and Lambert.

Ellis will return to action with Pirates on Wednesday when Neil Middleditch's side host Coventry in the Elite League, the Dorset outfit making the trip to Brandon 48 hours later.

Heat scores: Oliver Greenwood 8, Danny Phillips 4, Josh Bates 11, Alfie Bowtell 1, James Shanes 7, Robert Lambert 15, Nathan Greaves 9, Josh Bailey 3, Jack Parkinson-Blackburn 11, Zach Wajtknecht 9, Adam Ellis 13, Danno Verge 2, Ellis Perks 4, Jack Smith 7, Max Clegg 11, Danyon Hume 5. Reserves: Liam Carr 1, Ben Basford 0.

Semi-final: Bates, Parkinson-Blackburn, Greaves, Clegg.

Final: Bates, Lambert, Ellis, Parkinson-Blackburn.