DAVEY Watt has said Pirates "don't fear anyone" after they swept into the Craven Shield knockout stages with a standout performance at Blunsdon last night.

But Poole Castle Cover's progress into the last three was marred by Adam Skornicki's nasty heat 11 spill which left him nursing a suspected broken wrist.

Skornicki ploughed into the back of Swindon reserve Theo Pijper going into the first bend of the last lap and both hit the safety fence hard.

Pijper was knocked out and only regained consciousness about 30 minutes later while in an ambulance on his way to Swindon's Great Western Hospital.

The Dutchman told Robins team manager Alun Rossiter at 10.50pm from the hospital that he had a "possible broken collarbone and dislocated thumb."

Skornicki, who was able to walk back to the pits, left Abbey Stadium with his right hand - his throttle hand - in a sling.

Just before he departed for the same hospital, Poole's Polish rider said: "I have to go for an X-ray, and I just hope it's a dislocation, not a broken wrist.

"I'm gutted about it. I've got three meetings in the next three days for Poznan, one challenge and two open meetings, and Pirates are due at Wolves on Monday, my old track."

Skornicki, who had bagged six points including a brilliant heat one victory over world number two Leigh Adams, added: "I tried to pass the guy who was in front of me.

"I just had too much speed and I ran into him, but also every time I went on the track they had put the water down.

"The guy was all over the place and could not find a line. The crash was my fault and I wish Theo well because I did not mean for it to happen."

Pirates, despite trailing 22-14, would probably have won the meeting if they had not thrown away at least eight points following self-inflicted falls by Zbigniew Sucheck (twice) and Skornicki.

They were strong all the way through their side and didn't panic, even after losing three heats in a row early on.

Poole topped the Southern Group on superior race points difference and look set to meet either Coventry or Belle Vue in a two-legged semi-final, with Ipswich favourites to go straight through to the final.

Davey Watt, who top-scored for Pirates with nine paid 11, said: "I think we can take on anybody.

"We have a solid team. We know that when Zibi has a bit of an off night, Freddie (Eriksson) is there to back us up.

"We've got strength throughout the whole team. We can take on anybody, I'm not worried by our opponents.

It was a double celebration for Watt last night because earlier in the day he was told he would be the father of a baby boy in mid-August.

Watt, who already has a three-year-old daughter Madison with his partner Fiona, said: "Fi told me while I was on the way up to Swindon for the meeting.

"She had a scan today to check up everything was okay and we are going to have a baby boy.

"We're absolutely overjoyed."