PIRATES boss Matt Ford has hailed the result of the Ben Fund Bonanza as two of his winter signings took the first two places at Scunthorpe.

New Pirates skipper Danny King and fellow Wimborne Road arrival Steve Worrall finished first and second in the fundraising event on Saturday.

Ford said: “That was a good start for the club.

“We had a good retreat with them (in France) last weekend, and I detected from that an air of positivity about the team, and Danny and Steve were both keen to get off to a good start to the season.

“I am pleased for everyone involved in getting the meeting on.

“We all know only too well what a fabulous job the Ben Fund does for the riders, and with so much crisis on-going in the world currently it was undoubtedly a relief that the meeting went ahead, and is great news that we had a Pirate first and second.”