Holding their 33 point lead going into their semi-final second leg of the National Development League play-offs the Bournemouth Buccaneers were able to contain a determined Weymouth side to ensure their place in the final where they will meet Plymouth.
A delayed start due to a late ambulance, a hold-up because of a minor electrical fault a controversial double disqualification in heat 10 all seemed to contrive against the Buccaneers as the Wildcats wrote off 16 of the 33 point deficit after those first 10 heats.
Bournemouth though continued to show strong resolve, in much the same way as Danny Warwick had in heat 8 when, quite evidently in some discomfort moved into the lead to hold the Wildcats to a shared heat after the home side had claimed successive heat advantages with a 3-2 and 5-1. With Kyle Newman making it back to back race wins for the Buccaneers thus holding Weymouth to 11 points on the night a date with Plymouth became even more likely but not before Newman as a tactical rider in heat 11 was questionably disqualified, apparently as the cause of a race stoppage which happened after Taylor Poole, guesting for the Wildcats, had brought down Mark Baseby in a totally separate incident. Whilst it was accepted that Newman was not under power, prostrate on the track as he was, when the main crash occurred and would therefore not be eligible for a re-run the overlooking of the cause of the incident that brought the red lights on without punishment bemused the Bournemouth contingent. In the re-run Poole again went down on the second turn, apparently unaided despite pressure from Mark Baseby but it was the Buccaneer deemed at fault and duly disqualified leaving the Wildcats uncontested in the second re-run.
Weymouth moved into a 16 point lead on the night, 17 down on aggregate with 5 heats remaining. Bournemouth responded by sending Jay Herne out as a tactical as the heavens opened, the Australian keeping his cool, his balance and senses about him to claim a six-point race win that put the result beyond the Wildcats but with only 11 heats completed referee Christina Turnbull was unable to declare a result. Needing a 12th heat to be raced the Buccaneers brothers of Aaron and Mark Baseby came quickly to tapes as the rain continued to lash down. They were sent back to the pits whilst a conference was held to decided whether the meeting could continue and with the rain beginning to ease it was agreed to try and complete heat 12. In atrocious conditions the heat was completed finishing as a shared heat with the Wildcats winning the second leg 43-30 but the Buccaneers the aggregate victors 93-73 and they will now meet Plymouth in the championship final on a home and away basis with the first leg in Devon on Friday October 23rd and the return at Wimborne Road on Wednesday 28th. Prior to that though they face Buxton in the KO Cup final first leg on Sunday (at Buxton) with the return next Thursday
Scorers from Weymouth meeting: Weymouth 43 - T.Day 9+1, T.Webster 8+3, B.Compton 7+1, J.White-Williams 5+2, L.Smethills 5, J.Cockle 5,T.Poole 4+1 = Bournemouth 30 - J.Herne 13+1 (3,1',3,6^), A.Baseby 6 (1,0,2,1,0,2), K.Newman 4 (1,R,3,FD^), M.Baseby 3+1 (2,DQ,DQ,1'), D.Warwick 3 (0,3,R), A.Aldridge 1 (0,1,0)