MATT Ford insisted Pirates were now fully focused on defending their Elite League and Knockout Cup titles.

Ford was speaking to the Echo after Darcy Ward was yesterday cleared of sexual assault by a jury at Bournemouth Crown Court.

The Poole chief told the Echo: “It was an awful thing for Darcy to be put through, so the verdict was a huge relief.

“As a club, we have tried to do the right thing and keep out of the case and just let the legal system run its course.

“But anyone who knows Darcy, Neil and Suzi Middleditch and myself will know how this has affected everyone at the club.

“But I’m just incredibly happy that Darcy and the club can now start looking towards trying to win the Elite League and planning towards the European League, which is moving forward.”

Pirates will be hoping to maintain their unbeaten record when they face Peterborough in the Elite League at Wimborne Road tonight (7.30pm).

But they will have to do without sidelined Sam Masters.

The Aussie has failed to recover from a leg injury sustained while riding for Premier League club Somerset, so Ricky Kling comes into the main body of the team.

Pirates: 1 Chris Holder, 2 Ricky Kling, 3 Darcy Ward, 4 Dennis Andersson, 5 Adrian Miedzinski, 6, Ludvig Lindgren, 7 Todd Kurtz.

Panthers: 1 Kenneth Bjerre, 2 Lasse Bjerre, 3 Michael Jepsen Jensen, 4 Linus Sundstrom, 5 Oliver Allen, 6 Richard Lawson, 7 Jesper B Monberg.