Eastbourne have been sucked into the relegation battle after losing 48-41 at home to Poole last night.

The visitors gradually built up their advantage as the Eagles suffered a series of crashes and exclusions, the most serious leaving Lewis Bridger with concussion and out of the meeting after a heat ten tumble.

The Eagles came to life in the later stages but could not stop their South Coast rivals taking all four league points with a 5-1 in heat 15.

Poole are now only one point behind the Eagles in the league table.

Andrew Silver made a dramatic return to the track where he was once an Eagles’ hero. He was in the Poole team as a guest having returned to riding this year at the age of 42 after 15 years on the sidelines.

Silver lifted at the start of heat two and was last into the first corner. It looked a nailed-on 5-1 for Eastbourne but Silver passed both Eagles on the last lap to win the race.

Eastbourne: Daniel Nermark 9+2 (5), Davey Watt 9+1 (5), Simon Gustafsson 8 (4), Cameron Woodward 7 + 2 (5), Lukas Dryml 7, Lewis Bridger 1 (3), Ricky Kling 0 (4).

Poole; Chris Holder 12+2 (5), Rory Schlein 11 + 2 (5), Bjarne Pedersen 10, Steve Boxall 6+1 (5), Joe Screen 5 (4), Andrew Silver 3 (3), Leon Madsen 1 (4).