Sunday 21st October 2012, 17:49

Poole Pirates’ Elite League title chances are hanging by a thread after world champion Chris Holder suffered an ankle injury in Poland.

The new Elite League Riders champion was hurt as Torun clinched the Ekstraliga bronze medals in Zielona Gora on Sunday.

Holder is still expected to race in Pirates' Grand Final clash with Swindon at Wimborne Road on Monday, but it's unclear how fit he will be.

The injury comes as a hammer blow to Poole’s chances after SGP newcomer Darcy Ward was ruled out of the meeting after being left with head injuries in an incident in Dorset on Friday night.

Grand Prix qualifier Niels-Kristian Iversen guests for Ward, while Poole were already set to operate rider replacement for Piotr Pawlicki, whose season has been ended by a shoulder problem.

Swindon lead 51-44 from the first leg at Blunsdon last Monday and the decider at Poole was rained off on Wednesday and Friday. After a disastrous weekend, those postponements could end up costing the Dorset side very dearly.

Pirates owner Matt Ford said: "I don't recall having broken any mirrors or walked under any ladders lately. It’s been an unbelievable sequence of events.”

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