SOME £48,000 was raised in admissions alone at Darcy Ward's benefit meeting.

And the coffers are set to be further boosted by sponsorship cash as well as takings from the post-meeting auction at Wimborne Road.

Pirates team boss Neil Middleditch said: "Everyone who was there will not have failed to have been touched by the emotion of the evening and I can't begin to tell you how touched I was personally.

"Darcy is so close to me and (wife) Suzi and the last six weeks have been extremely tough.

"Seeing so many people come united in one cause was heart-wrenching and how Darcy himself got through the evening and even managed to speak to the crowd is still beyond me.

"I think that just shows the strength of the kid and he will need plenty of that in the days and weeks ahead."

Middleditch was speaking to the Pirates website.