PIRATES recorded a commanding 58-32 home victory over King’s Lynn Stars to go within one point of SGB Premiership leaders Swindon.

Jack Holder was the star of the show for Neil Middleditch’s men at Wimborne Road, accumulating 14 points from five rides against a threadbare Stars outfit.

Nicolai Klindt (12) and Brady Kurtz (9) also impressed as the defending league champions got back to winning ways.

Pirates went into the contest without the injured Ricky Wells, who was left nursing a shoulder injury which had been plaguing him in recent weeks.

The hosts tracked Ryan Douglas in his place at reserve – the Aussie having scored 18+1 for Peterborough against Swindon on Monday.

Visitors King’s Lynn suffered huge blows to their line-up. With Michael Palm Toft and Thomas Jorgensen injured, the Stars were also without skipper Robert Lambert, who had missed his flight ahead of the contest.

That meant National League youngster Chad Wirtzfeld was thrown in at number one, Chris Harris guested at number two and the visitors also used rider replacement.

It was Harris who took the chequered flag in a shared opener. The British star slipped past Nico Covatti after the Poole charger had led out of the gate. Kurtz eventually finished second.

Pirates guest Douglas did his best to pass King’s Lynn’s Lewis Kerr on the line in the reserves’ heat but had to settle for second. Poole’s Tomas H Jonasson was third as the meeting remained all square.

But Pirates broke the deadlock with their first heat victory of the night in race three.

Klindt roared round the outside of Erik Riss on the second bend of the opening lap – captain Josh Grajczonek finished third to earn the hosts a 4-2.

And it got even better for Pirates with a 5-1 in heat four. Aussie ace Holder made use of the outside line and cruised to victory, fellow countryman Douglas was second ahead of Craig Cook and Kerr.

Klindt then made it two wins out of two with a tapes-to-flag success in heat five. Grajczonek was once again third, this time behind Harris as Poole opened up an eight-point lead.

Poole star Kurtz then showed why he had reclaimed the number one race jacket with a monstrous win ahead of Cook in a shared race six.

Stars managed to pull two points back in heat seven with Riss getting the better of Holder, who looked threatening in a bid to chase down the German rider. King’s Lynn’s Nicklas Porsing claimed third.

But in-form Douglas then recorded his first race win of the night, spearheading a 5-1 with Covatti to see off the challenge of Harris and Porsing.

Stars ace Cook then became the first man to beat second-placed Klindt in a shared heat nine.

But Kurtz then again showed blistering speed after charging home for a 5-1 alongside Covatti. Harris, who had been brought in as a tactical substitute was left trailing Riss after suffering bike problems.

Not to be outdone, Holder continued his impressive night’s work by taking the spoils after leading from the gate in heat 11 ahead of Harris with Jonasson claiming third.

Klindt continued to turn on the style as he led from the gate to move into double figures on the night in race 12 ahead of Riss. Douglas in third meant the Dorset club moved 18 points ahead.

Despite Cook managing to split the Poole duo of Holder and Kurtz in heat 13, the former still managed to charge home and help his side to a 4-2 advantage as his impressive night’s work continued.

It had become all too easy for Poole and they pressed home their advantage in the penultimate heat.

Skipper Grajczonek was miles clear of Jonasson in second, nevertheless the hosts rattled in another 5-1 ahead of Riss and Kerr.

Holder rounded off a sublime night’s work after Klindt had slipped back in the nominated race, Cook managed to pass Klindt in the finale but it was not to matter as Poole secured the all-important three league points.

Pirates 58: Kurtz 9, Covatti 5+3, Klindt 12, Grajczonek 6+1, Holder 14, Jonasson 4+2, Douglas 8+1.

Stars 32: Wirtzfeld 0, Harris 8, Riss 9, Cook 10, Kerr 4+1, N.Porsing 1.