SEVERE weather warnings were all over the television yesterday, but the biggest storm in Poole last night was created by Aussie sensation Chris Holder.

The hot prospect produced a whirlwind performance just when it was required to save Pirates from defeat in an epic Elite League Knock-out Cup semi-final second leg at Wimborne Road.

With the storm clouds clearing above Poole, Holder's fireworks filled the night's sky as he timed his late push to perfection to thrill the home faithful.

The scores were level at 42-42 and 87-87 on aggregate going into the final heat last night and, with Coventry skipper Chris Harris edging ahead early in the race, Holder's heroic finale could not have been more timely.

His heat 15 success, which was the talented Australian's fourth win of the meeting, ensured the teams will have to do it all again and contest a replay for the chance to meet either Lakeside or Eastbourne in the final of the competition.

"We had a couple of riders not firing and straight from the go Coventry were on the gas," Holder told the Daily Echo.

"It looked a bit doubtful at one point but we came through in the end and can try over two meetings again."

A difficult evening had always looked on the cards after the impressive Hans Andersen, who received a mixed reception on his return to Poole, silenced the boo boys in the opening heat of the night.

The Danish superstar, along with team-mate Oliver Allen, put Holder and a struggling Magnus Zetterstrom in the shade by firing in a 5-1 first-up.

The hosts wasted no time in getting back on track, with Daniel Davidsson and Freddie Eriksson registering a 5-1 of their own to immediately level matters, making the most of Filip Sitera's fall at the start of the second lap.

It remained a close affair, though, with nothing to choose between the two battling teams throughout what fast became a classic evening of speedway.

With Pirates captain Bjarne Pedersen looking out of form and Zetterstrom also misfiring, it was left to Davidsson to bring home the points for Poole Castle Cover in the early races, as he racked up three fine wins to keep his team in the hunt.

Holder was at his irrepressible best in heat six, rocketing from the traps and stretching the field to win at a canter.

And the Aussie was up to his old tricks again in heat 10 as he destroyed Harris, known as the Brandon Bomber, and Billy Janniro to keep the scores level and set up a thrilling climax.

Heat 12 looked like it would see Pirates creep ahead for the first time on the night when Pedersen seemed to have found his winning touch.

But Harris fought back and produced the manoeuvre of the night to fly past the Pirates skipper on the outside and make the audacious move stick to keep the verdict well and truly in the balance.

Holder produced the quickest time of the meeting in heat 13 but Andersen and Simon Stead followed him home for a 3-3, before the honours were again shared in the penultimate race, ensuring the result all came down to the crucial 15th heat.

With the visitors sending out in-form Andersen and Harris, Poole had it all to do if they were to force a replay.

And with Harris leading and Andersen in third, the Pirates' prospects did not look good.

But it was too early to write the hosts off and Holder stormed past Harris to win in yet another fast time and further enhance his growing reputation.