RUTHLESS Pirates did a clinical job of seeing off rock-bottom Peterborough as they racked up a half-century of points at Wimborne Road.

The SGB Premiership leaders were driven on by dynamic Dane Nicolai Klindt, who top-scored with 13 for the hosts in a 50-40 success.

There were also important contributions from Jack Holder (10+1) and Brady Kurtz (10) as the reigning champions made it eight victories in their past nine meetings.

Pirates welcomed back Kurtz, who had impressed racing in Poland and Sweden since returning from a head injury.

He stepped into the number five spot, with Holder taking up the spearhead role at number one.

Peterborough had skipper Hans Andersen back from injury and tracked Ryan Douglas as a guest in place of Josh Bates at reserve.

The Panthers line-up also included new British champion Charles Wright, who was paraded ahead of the opening heat.

It was seven-time British champion Scott Nicholls who sealed victory as the Panthers gained a race advantage in the opener. He held off the challenge of Holder, with Rohan Tungate picking up a point in third.

American Ricky Wells, brought in by Poole to replace Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen last month, took the spoils in a shared reserves’ heat.

He led from the gate ahead of Aaron Summers and Douglas.

As so often has been the case for Pirates of late, the duo of Klindt and Josh Grajczonek teamed up to give the hosts a foothold in the contest.

With Klindt looking slick out in front after blasting round the outside, skipper Grajczonek manoeuvred his way from the back to overcome Ty Proctor and Wright – earning Poole their first 5-1 of the night and putting them ahead after heat three.

Kurtz then looked like he had never been as away as he roared to the front and surged clear ahead of Douglas in race four. Douglas led home Wells and Andersen, as Pirates surged into a four-point lead.

Veteran Nicholls then made it two wins on the night as he took the chequered flag after diving up the inside past Klindt. Tungate led home Grajczonek as Panthers earned their second 4-2.

Holder got the better of returning star Andersen in heat six after being forced wide by the Panthers skipper. Wells had momentarily passed the Dane but was left to settle for third.

Returning star Kurtz continued to show his class by looking extremely quick in heat seven. Poole had been on a 5-1 until Wright powered past Nico Covatti for second.

Grajczonek triumphed in a shared heat eight before the captain was back out to earn a 5-1 with Klindt moments later.

The pair left Panthers duo Andersen and Summers for dust – meaning Poole cruised into a 32-22 lead.

Pirates continued to dominate and it was number one Holder who put them further in command after heat 10. He blitzed out of the gate to triumph by a considerable margin – Wright got round the outside of Covatti to seal second.

Visiting duo Tungate and Nicholls paired up for a maximum in race 11 as Kurtz was beaten for the first time on the night.

British champion Wright then showed his determination to dive past Wells on the line for second in heat 12 – he was only just short of overcoming race winner Klindt in a thriller, as Poole had to be content with a 4-2.

But the Dorset club wrapped up the contest with two heats to go thanks to Aussie duo Kurtz and Holder.

While the former enjoyed himself out in front, Holder got the better of Andersen – diving under the Dane to regain second spot and ensure the 5-1.

Reserve Douglas took a race victory ahead of Covatti in race 14 before Nicholls beat Klindt for top spot in the finale – but it was not to matter as Pirates kept up their impressive record.

Victory saw Pirates move on to 36 points from 16 meetings this season – they have only lost once in the league since the start of June.

Neil Middleditch’s men are next in action when they take on rivals Ipswich at Wimborne Road next Thursday.

They then host Swindon before an away trip to Wolverhampton.