PIRATES number one Richard Lawson said it was “horrible” to “come up short” in a second final after Poole lost the Knockout Cup to Scunthorpe Scorpions.

Trailing by four-points after the first leg away from home, Pirates were unable to overhaul the Scorpions at Wimborne Road, a 45-45 draw leading to a 92-88 aggregate loss.

"Dougie (Ryan Douglas) is a good gater on the best of days and especially early on, gate four, which I had in the first heat, was real heavy and sloppy after the gate.

“I was getting no drive. After I dumped the clutch it wasn't too bad but afterwards I was just spinning through the sloppy stuff and that played into their favour.

“It comes down to a coin toss but would it have been different?

“I think it would have but, well hey, like I said it's hard to swallow.

“Especially so after last week.

“We were all so bitterly disappointed after last week and we all so wanted to bring this back but we've come up short and it’s horrible."

A pivotal moment came in heat 10 with Pirates leading by two on the night, meaning the deficit was just two points on aggregate.

Pirates were on for a maximum, which would have put them ahead for the first time.

However, mechanical gremlins struck, Lawson’s bike briefly cutting out, seeing the race end in a 3-3 tie.

"When you are on a 5-1 it is so frustrating and it always seems to happen that way,” Lawson continued.

“My cut-out came out and I have never had that happen in my whole career and it had to happen tonight in a final.

“When every point is vital it is just so hard, so hard to swallow."