POOLE Pirates suffered a second straight defeat after a dramatic finale at Scunthorpe Scorpions.

Pirates, who saw their long unbeaten home run come to an end against Leicester Lions last week, battled back from a nightmare start, before being edged out 45-44 at Eddie Wright Raceway.

Steve Worrall (12+1) and Drew Kemp (7+2) were Pirates' standout performers, with Danny King again struggling for top form, scoring six points from five rides.

Scunthorpe made a dream start with maximums in the opening two heats, showing their pace from the gate.

Poole slowly began to claw their way back into contest, with Worrall and Ben Cook battling hard to earn a 4-2 in heat three.

Richard Lawson then caught Tero Aarnio napping to pip him on the line in a shared heat four, before the hosts opened up a 10-point advantage with a maximum in heat five.

With Jake Allen out in front, teammate Zaine Kennedy came from the back to overtake both Zach Cook and King to put Scunthorpe 20-10 up.

Poole then reduced the arrears with their first maximum of the night in heat seven. Worrall made a great start, before Ben Cook came up the inside of Aarnio to join him.

Gary Havelock then opted for a reserve switch, which did the trick as Kemp came in and combined with Zach Cook for another 5-1.

Scunthorpe profited from one of the races of the night in heat nine. After a slow start, Kennedy shot to the front, where he was joined by Allen. But Pirates at least avoided the 5-1, with Lawson exchanging places with Kennedy before finally getting ahead of the Australian.

After a strong start in heat 10, Pirates pair of Worrall and Ben Cook were forced to settle for a 3-3, but the visitors found themselves in front for after success in the following two heats.

Zach Cook held off Aarnio, while King battled to third ahead of Connor Coles in heat 11, before a big maximum for Havelock's charges in heat 12.

Worrall and Kemp led from the gate, meaning Poole moved 37-35 ahead, having trailed by 10 earlier in the meeting.

The drama continued in heat 13. King began to show his class, denying Scunthorpe a maximum by splitting the home pair to take second to put the meeting level on the night.

Just two riders eventually finished heat 14. After Coles fell, Ben Cook then had engine problems, leaving Allen to take a 3-2 over Ablitt.

And Scunthorpe wrapped up the 45-44 victory in a thrilling shared final heat. Allen led ahead of King and Worrall, only for Ryan Douglas to come from the back to take the victory and top score on the night with 13.

Poole's pair battled hard to at least ensure a 3-3, but could not quite reel Douglas in.

Pirates 44: Danny King 6, Zach Cook 6+1, Steve Worrall 12+1, Ben Cook 4+2, Richard Lawson 7, Drew Kemp 7+2, Nathan Ablitt 2.

Scunthorpe 45: Ryan Douglas 13, Simon Lambert 3+1, Zaine Kennedy 4+1, Jake Allen 11, Tero Aarnio 8, Connor Coles 2+1, Jordan Palin 4+1.