PIRATES promoter Danny Ford said his side dug deep to win the Championship title against Oxford but now attentions turn to securing the season treble.

Poole mounted a sensational comeback to overturn a 12-point deficit in the Grand Final, winning the Wimborne Road second leg by 22 points to take the title 95-85 on aggregate.

Speaking to the Daily Echo after the meeting, Ford explained his emotions throughout a remarkable night for the club.

“I felt very anxious and nervous before the meeting and when the meeting begun, I kind of settled a little bit,” he said. “But then Richard [Lawson] getting excluded in his first heat certainly didn't help things.

“You think you're against an uphill battle already and then you just feel like things aren't going your way.

(Image: Richard Crease) “But the boys dug so deep tonight, it's an incredible team effort from one to seven.

“We've been the team all year and to lift the trophy at the end of the night really has made it all worthwhile.”

The evening began dramatically, with each of the first three heats called back for re-runs after crashes and some controversial refereeing decisions.

On his perspective of the start, Ford said: “It was kind of war.

“Neither team wanted to give an inch. You felt the atmosphere in the stadium, there was a good, big Oxford contingent here.

“Everyone really wanted to win it and, there was a lot of tension and tempers perhaps flared a few bits at times, but that's what you get.

“It was good racing, it was entertaining, and the most important thing is no one really got hurt at the end of the night, so it's good. We're very happy.”

Poole levelled the aggregate after nine heats but it was neck and neck heading towards the conclusion.

Ford said he first believed that the title would return to Poole after heat 13 – where Lawson and Tom Brennan combined for a 4-2 victory over the formidable Oxford pair of Scott Nicholls and Sam Masters.

(Image: Richard Crease) “I think Heat 13 to get a heat advantage out of that really sealed the deal,” he said.

“I know how strong Zach is in 14, so I was under no doubt Zach would bring it home at 14.

“Thirteen was kind of the turning point. I really felt that we've got this in the bag now.”

Looking ahead, Pirates face Oxford yet again in the KO Cup Final next week as they go in search of the treble in 20245.

“That's the aim, it's been the aim all season,” Ford said.

“We aim to win everything and that will certainly upset a few neutrals and supporters of other clubs.

“But, we say it every year, we're here to not make up the numbers, we're here to dominate.

“So far we've done that, but Oxford will definitely be out for revenge and it's going to be really tough second time round, but we’re determined to get that treble.”