POOLE Pirates have taken the early decision to rearrange the second leg of their Championship Knockout Cup final.

Cup holders Pirates trail Scunthorpe Scorpions by four points after losing 47-43 at Eddie Wright Raceway on Sunday afternoon.

The two clubs were scheduled to complete the tie at Wimborne Road on Wednesday, but that has now been pushed back due to heavy rain forecast in Dorset throughout the day.

Instead, the meeting will take place on Saturday night, with a 7.30pm start time.

The club’s statement says it will be the first time since April 1963 that Poole will ride in an official fixture at Wimborne Road on a Saturday, when they beat Exeter.

The venue last staged a Saturday meeting in 2013, when it hosted the FIM GP Challenge, won by Niels Kristian Iversen.

Promoter Danny Ford said: “It doesn’t matter how many different weather forecasts I look at, the story remains the same.

“Wednesday is set to be a horrible day weather-wise and certainly not one to try and risk staging an important cup final on.

“Our normal start time will, I hope, still give those fans who like to follow us and both AFC Bournemouth followers and our near neighbours Poole Town FC enough time to get to the stadium after their respective home matches.”

Cherries and Dolphins both have 3pm kick-offs on Saturday, against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chesham United respectively.