THE Buildbase Bees remain adamant that they can reach the Knockout Cup Final - despite going down by 20 points in the first leg of their semi-final replay at Poole.

Bees overturned a 24-point deficit against the same opposition club in the semi-final of the Craven Shield earlier this season, and will need a comeback of similar proportions when a date is set for the return fixture.

Top duo Hans Andersen and Chris Harris fought hard to keep Bees in the tie, scoring all but eight of the points between them as the middle and lower order suffered an assortment of problems at Wimborne Road.

The rider replacement facility for the injured Simon Stead brought in just three points, and Olly Allen had to pull out of the meeting following a third-ride fall which was a consequence of illness picked up on a recent flight.

Harris won his first three rides, the third of which was a thrilling pass of Magnus Zetterstrom, to ensure Bees didn't sink completely after going 14 points down after the first six races.

And although Andersen didn't enjoy the best of starts to the meeting - doubling up a second place on a tactical ride in Heat 5 - the Dane rode superbly in the closing stages to win Heats 11, 13 and 15.

Andersen got the better of Australian star Chris Holder in Heat 13 and then forced aside fellow countryman Bjarne Pedersen going into the second lap of Heat 15 with Harris suffering carburettor problems.

Harris had earlier attempted a tactical substitute ride from 15 metres back in Heat 14 as Bees tried all their available options, but he was kept in third place by the team-riding of Daniel Davidsson and Adam Skornicki.

The statistic that Poole ran just two last places in the fifteen heats was probably the most telling factor, with the home side clearly far more at ease with their home track conditions than they had been in the 45-45 draw three weeks earlier.

But Bees remained positive after the meeting and are determined that conditions will be in their favour when the sides meet again for the second leg at Brandon, with plenty still to race for.

POOLE 56: Chris Holder 13, Bjarne Pedersen 12+1, Daniel Davidsson 9+2, Magnus Zetterstrom 7+2, Davey Watt 7+1, Adam Skornicki 6+3, Freddie Eriksson 2+1.

BUILDBASE BEES 36: Hans Andersen 14, Chris Harris 14, Ben Barker 4+1, Billy Janniro 2+1, Olly Allen 2, Filip Sitera 0, Simon Stead R/R.