Poole Pirates captain Danny King fit to ride, despite nasty crash at Sheffield

Pirates' captain came off during heat seven of Ipswich's Premiership meeting against Sheffield Tigers at Owlerton.

Thankfully the 35-year-old was able to walk away from the incident, but he withdrew from the remainder of the meeting, feeling stiff after the crash.

But the Daily Echo understands King will be fit to ride for Poole, when they welcome Berwick Bandits to Wimborne Road in the Championship tomorrow (7.30pm).

There was an extensive delay after King's high-speed crash, with repairs needed after several airbags burst in the fence around turn two.

It proved to be one of multiple spills on the night, with the meeting eventually curtailed after heat 13, due to a curfew at the venue.

Sheffield leapfrogged Ipswich to go top of the Premiership, winning 43-35.

Speaking last night after the crash, King said: "(I am) a bit sore, a bit stiff. I'm not quite sure what happened.

"I just took off too quickly and went towards the fence very quickly.

"I don't know whether it was my error, or track error.

"I just tried to get off the bike. I don't like going into the fence with the bike, because obviously that can be a lot worse.

"I think it just got off in time, I'm not 100 per cent sure, I'll have to watch it back."

Tomorrow is set to mark King's final meeting in this stint as Poole's number one, before averages are updated for July, when Steve Worrall will take that jersey.

King will slip to third in Pirates' averages after an indifferent month, with Richard Lawson also overtaking him.

The clash with Berwick too marks Drew Kemp's last as a reserve for Pirates, with the teenager set to move up into the main body of the team, with Ben Cook dropping to fill that position.

Pirates: Danny King, Zach Cook, Steve Worrall, Ben Cook, Richard Lawson, Drew Kemp, Nathan Ablitt.

Berwick: Chris Harris, Theo Pijper, Jye Etheridge, Ricky Wells, Leon Flint, Jonas Knudsen, Nathan Stoneman.