PIRATES will not have to contest a relegation play-off after Belle Vue lost 52-44 at home to Ipswich tonight.
It means Poole Castle Cover finish second bottom of the Elite League, tied with Aces on 32 points but above them on superior race points difference.
Belle Vue will have to triumph in a promotion-relegation play-off against the Premier League play-off winners to retain their top-flight status.
Pirates team manager Neil Middleditch said: "It's a relief.
"We didn't want to finish bottom and we haven't, which is nice.
"It's not somewhere we wanted to be."
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