Dean Barker was hit in the pocket as Eastbourne Eagles suffered in a stormy south-coast battle today.

Barker was fined £250 for comments made to ref Ronnie Allen as Eagles lost 52-36 at Poole Pirates in the Elite League.

The two sides meet again at Arlington tonight (7.30pm).

Poole banged in 5-1s in heats 14 and 15 to top up their winning margin after Eagles, helped by another maximum from their reserves, led early on.

Bjarne Pedersen had a 15-point full maximum for the Pirates and Jason Crump went 13+1 (5), suffering a lone defeat to Nicki Pedersen.

That was Pedersen's only win in a haul of 7+1 (5).

Both he and Lewis Bridger, who had paid ten from six heats, are nursing thigh bruises going into tonight's re-match.

Eagles' four replacement rides for Poole-specialist Davey Watt brought in just one point.

The injured Watt was at the match, giving his team encouragement.

Eagles boss Trevor Geer admitted he is a good friend of ref Allen but said: "There were some very dubious decisions going both ways.

"It will be tough for us this evening but we will go for it."

David Norris bagged paid six, leaving him ten short of Gordon Kennett's all-time Eagles points-scoring record.