Patched-up Pirates keep up impressive form with victory over King's Lynn

The reigning champions were once again spearheaded by Josh Grajczonek (12+1) and Nicolai Klindt (11+2) to pick up three league points.

There was also a useful guest contribution from Ricky Wells, who recorded nine paid 10 from seven rides at reserve.

Victory ensured Neil Middleditch’s men picked up their fifth league win on the bounce – Poole are unbeaten since the end of May.

Pirates went into the contest without three of their regular septet. Stricken trio Brady Kurtz, Nico Covatti and Richie Worrall were all sidelined through injury.

That meant Sam Masters and Wells came in as guests, with the hosts running rider replacement for Worrall.

The Stars were forced into one change. Danny Ayres stepped in to guest at reserve for Simon Lambert, who had picked up a wrist injury.

Great Britain star Robert Lambert breezed to victory in the opener for the visitors.

The King’s Lynn skipper roared out of the gate to finish ahead of Poole’s guest duo of Wells and Masters, who occupied the minor placings to share the spoils.

American Wells had no time to rest for Pirates as he turned out in the reserves’ heat to claim the chequered flag. Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen slipped past Ayres to take third and earn the hosts an early advantage.

The power pairing of Grajczonek and Klindt then teamed up to seal a one-two in heat three for the hosts.

Red-hot race winner Grajczonek reeled in Thomas Jorgensen, who had led out of the gate – Klindt also managed to overhaul him as Pirates recorded their first 5-1 of the night.

Craig Cook eased to victory ahead of Holder and Busk Jakobsen in a shared heat four before Lambert showed his class in race five.

He surged round the outside of Grajczonek to triumph. Pirates occupied the minor placings to lead by six on the night.

Drama on the run-in to the line saw the Stars seal their first heat advantage in race six.

With Cook out in front followed by Masters, Dane Busk Jakobsen suffered mechanical problems with Lewis Kerr swooping to take third on the final straight.

Holder looked impressive with a tapes-to-flag win in heat seven, heading both Erik Riss and Jorgensen.

And skipper Grajczonek was then not to be denied after leading from the gate ahead of Michael Palm-Toft. Busk Jakobsen got the better of Kerr for third to ensure Pirates led 27-21 after eight heats.

Lambert was used as a tactical substitute by the visitors in heat nine to team up with Cook. But the Stars pair were thwarted by a sublime pass round the outside by winner Klindt.

Poole’s guest duo of Masters and Wells then team rode perfectly once they hit the front in heat 10. The former picked up his first win of the night as the hosts surged 10 points ahead.

The contest then suffered a lengthy delay after reserve Busk Jakobsen had been taken ill and received medical treatment in the pit area – he was later taken to hospital.

While Lambert cruised to win heat 11, Holder held his nerve in a wheel-to-wheel battle to earn second ahead of Palm-Toft.

Klindt’s second race win on the bounce in heat 12 restored a 10-point cushion for Poole, with Wells stepping to pick up third.

The Stars kept themselves in it thanks to Cook and Lambert teaming up to seal a 5-1 in race 13 ahead of Holder - who had battled valiantly in an attempt to earn second - and guest Masters.

But Grajczonek ensured any late concerns were extinguished with a win from the gate in the penultimate heat, wrapping up the contest in Pirates' favour.

Cook was then excluded in heat 15 after tangling with captain Grajczonek – the Pirates skipper ending up in the fence.

Lambert held off Klindt and Grajczonek in the re-run but Poole sealed victory by eight points.