PIRATES supporters must still be wondering how their side failed to win the Sky Sports Elite League title after another compelling season of racing at Wimborne Road.

Poole Gas Appliance Superstore co-promoters Matt Ford and Mike Golding caused controversy last winter when they replaced fans' favourite Mark Loram with Tony Rickardsson.

Some Pirates supporters vented their fury that the promoters had not gone that extra few yards financially to bring England's first World champion for eight years back to Poole for a third successive campaign.

But 10 months later, after Pirates had been pipped by just one point to the title by Oxford, that out-of-season controversy was very much forgotten as Rickardsson spearheaded Poole to Craven Shield glory.

The Swede was a class act on a Wimborne Road track he admitted was not among his favourites as he led Poole's three-pronged attack on the league, Knock-Out Cup and Craven Shield.

Rickardsson, on loan from Ipswich, scorched to a home average of 10.05, a 9.35 figure away and an overall CMA of 9.66.

He quickly filled the gap left by Loram and soon, with relative unknowns Krzysztof Cegielski and Hans Andersen adapting quickly in their debut British League campaigns, led Poole to the top of the table.

Cegielski, the Pole, was almost unstoppable at reserve and after a month had already risen to heat leader.

Andersen was overshadowed slightly by Cegielski, but the Dane's early season progress was also remarkable before he broke his right thigh at the end of May in a track spill at Wimborne Road against Peterborough.

It was an injury that, ultimately, probably cost Pirates the league title.

Although the Dane returned to action before the end of the season and his short-term replacement Magnus Zetterstrom did well, Poole just didn't seem to have the same sparkle.

They lost away matches at Wolves (twice), Oxford and Ipswich in the second half of the season which all proved vital in the final analysis.

And the 46-44 home defeat against Ipswich, a week before Andersen's injury, was also unforgettable, especially as Pirates had led by a massive 16 points after only five heats.

That turned out to be their only home setback in league, cup and Craven Shield action, but two 45-45 draws against Coventry and Oxford at Wimborne Road also helped sway the title verdict in Cheetahs' favour.

Grzegorz Walasek had a superb second half of the season after rebooting his campaign into top gear at the British Grand Prix in Cardiff, while Gary Havelock also returned to his best.

Lars Gunnestad was hampered by injuries before a fantastic final six weeks of the season capped his well-deserved testimonial year with Pirates.

Craig Watson struggled at reserve and will be disappointed with his 4.87 average after promising more, although he should bounce back on loan at Premier League Newport next year and return to the top flight.

Swedish newcomer David Ruud, understandably, found it tough in the five meetings he rode and is one for the future.

Oxford will always be criticised in some quarters for persisting in using rider replacement for Lukas Dryml, who was injured so often and missed league matches.

Havelock certainly made his thoughts clear on the subject and he felt it had a major destiny on the title outcome.

What is certain is that Pirates were genuinely unlucky on the league front.

But, after suffering an early exit in the Knock Out Cup against Ipswich, they pulled back a 10-point deficit on Peterborough in the last leg of the final to win the Craven Shield ahead of the Panthers and Wolves.

It was an impressive way to finish off the season at Wimborne Road in a year when crowds again regularly topped 4,000.

In fact, Rickardsson and co. celebrated wildly with Poole's fans - after all, it was the club's first major trophy since their British League triumph in 1994.