Jon Cook today put a brave face on heartbreak for his Eastbourne Eagles and declared: "We've sent out a message for next season".

Eagles outscored hosts Oxford 39-36 with Poole back on 33 points in the third leg of the Craven Shield final last night.

But Oxford took the honours by a single point on aggregate when Billy Hamill and Henka Gustaffson scored a 4-2 over Poole in the last of 54 races in the final.

The Silver Machine totalled 115 points with Eastbourne on 114 and holders Poole on 95.

It was an agonising way for Eagles to finish their marathon campaign and promoter Cook admitted: "It was so near yet so far which sums up our season.

"Give credit to Oxford because they looked the best team in the first two meetings but we were streets ahead last night.

"In the end a fall for Mark Loram and engine failure for Dean Barker cost us but we've sent out a strong message to our fans about what they can expect next season."

Cook will now begin contract talks with his riders and Davey Watt enhanced his chances of a new deal with two heat wins.

He was on course for a 5-1 in heat ten until partner Loram fell, allowing Oxford to snatch a 3-3 which proved crucial in the final calculations.

Adam Shields and Barker had a 4-2 over Oxford in heat 16 but Bjarne Pedersen pipped the otherwise unbeaten Nicki Pedersen in the 17th to hold Eagles to a 3-3.

That left Oxford needing a 4-2 to win it. Hamill was always in charge but Billy Janniro got past Gustaffson and Grzegorz Walasek was close to grabbing the third place for Poole which would have forced Oxford and Eastbourne into a race-off for the Shield.

Oxford: Iversen 9, Hancock 8+1, Hamill 7, McGowan 6+3, Gustafsson 4+2, Eriksson 2+1.

Eagles: N. Pedersen 11, Watt 8+1, Shields 8, Loram 7+1, Barker 3, Moore 2+1.

Poole: B. Pedersen 12, Ulamek 10, Janniro 9, Walasek 1+1, Phillips 1, Ashworth 0.