WATT's BL CUP FINAL AGONY

From the Echo, first published Thursday 16th Oct 2003.

DAVEY Watt faces an agonising wait to see if he will be fit to line up for Pirates in the British League Cup final at East-bourne this weekend.

The Australian rider sustained a suspected broken scaphoid during Poole's 46-44 home win over Belle Vue in their semi-final, second leg, last night.

If X-rays today confirm that Watt has broken the bone in his right hand it will not only rule him out of the visit to Arlington on Sunday (3.30pm), but also for the rest of the season.

Watt fell heavily in heat eight of Pirates' win over the Aces after his bike lifted violently as he powered out of the fourth bend on the second lap.

The Australian, who had been chasing race leader Jason Crump hard in second place, rode tightly around the corner by the white line.

Watt couldn't control the wheelie and he fell headfirst off his machine into the safety fence at high speed.

A crowd of about 2,000 at Wimborne Road collectively held their breath expecting the worst as the Pirate laid sprawled on the track and his team-mate David Ruud narrowly avoided hitting the fallen rider.

However, Watt gingerly got back to his feet after receiving first aid treatment and, holding his head with his hands, he was able to walk back across the centre green to the pits.

Watt immediately pulled out of the meeting through injury, but told the Wimborne Road faithful over the stadium tannoy: "Crumpie was way out in front and I was just trying my best to narrow the gap when all of a sudden, my bike picked up.

"I couldn't get it down in time, I hit the fence and fortunately, David was able to miss me.

"It was a bit of a shock really and the bike is quite a mess.

"My wrist is dead at the moment and I can't say whether I will be able to ride at Eastbourne because I need to go to hospital and get it X-rayed.

"Hopefully I will be able to ride on Sunday but we will have to wait until after we have seen the X-rays."

Pirates win - and 95-85 aggregate triumph - fixed up a two-legged final against Eastbourne, with the second leg at Wimborne Road on Wednesday, October 29.

It also kept Poole's treble hopes alive as the Elite League champions chase glory in the Knockout Cup final against Coventry was well.

Pirates' team at Eastbourne, if Watt is declared fit, is: 1 Leigh Adams, 2 David Ruud, 3 Antonio Lindback, 4 Davey Watt, 5 Bjarne Pedersen, 6 Scott Pegler, 7 Tony Primmer.

Magnus Zetterstrom is unavailable and captain Craig Boyce has been left out so that Leigh Adams can ride.

Eastbourne are expected to line up with 1 David Norris, 2 Ulrich Ostergaard, 3 Dean Barker, 4 Adam Shields, 5 Joonas Kylmakorpi, 6 Matt Read, 7 tbc.

Sunday's meeting begins at 3.30pm.

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