INJURY-ravaged Poole Pirates produced their customary end-of-season grit to pocket a deserved point when losing 48-42 at Wolverhampton.

Without all three heat leaders, Neil Middleditch’s men fought for every point and stayed within six of the flying hosts throughout in spite of an imperious five-ride full maximum from Wolves star Jacob Thorssell.

Guest Scott Nicholls appeared to be distracted by an advertising banner draping on the edge of the track in the opener with early leader Adam Ellis overtaken by winner Peter Karlsson by the end of bend two.

Poole were on a 5-1 in the first reserve heat but Kyle Newman went down under pressure from Kyle Howarth, allowing Wolves to pinch a share of the spoils.

Nicholls smoothly sailed from third to first to pass and comfortably hold off world champion Tai Woffinden in heat three but that was followed by Thorssell’s easy victory which increased to four points the gap.

Karlsson got out of shape at the start of heat five and Ellis led Pedersen home for a Pirates maximum.

Poole stand-in Nicolai Kilndt briefly threatened to challenge but Thorssell and Woffinden hit straight back with a 5-1 in heat six before Lindgren’s wobble with Wolves on another maximum afforded the visitors a shared heat.

Thorssell continued his unstoppable form with Howarth holding off Ellis’s late challenge to give Wolves a six-point cushion.

But Kurtz emerged just in front from a tight start to heat nine with Newman finding some grip to soar into second to close the gap with a much-needed 5-1.

That prompted team boss Neil Middleditch to put Kurtz forward for the rider replacement berth against Woffinden and Masters.

The Aussie youngster beat his illustrious rival to the gate and in the battle for first, Woffinden hit the air fence and was excluded.

Kurtz then held off Masters with an exemplary ride to level the scores going into the last five races.

Newman was sent out for the misfiring Klindt in heat 11 and was vying with Lindgren for first before walloping the fence while right up the Swede’s exhaust on lap two.

Nicholls could not quite get to the dirt line but passed Lindgren on lap two for a 3-3 in the re-run.

Some heavy track grading followed under the watchful eye of the home riders, particularly at the start of the back straight where Poole had made most of their passes.

But Newman still found that trusty sweet spot in heat 12 to take the chequered flag and keep his side on level terms.

Klindt gated in heat 13 but was passed all too easily and while Newman pushed Masters all the way, Lindgren led a Wolves 5-1.

Woffinden sat out heat 14 following his knock and although Wolves hit the front, Nicholls pinched second with the battling Kurtz ultimately beaten to third by Howarth to seal victory for the hosts.

Poole required a 3-3 for a return on their considerable efforts and secured it with a rip-roaring finish at both ends.

Nicholls was just beaten by maximum man Thorssell but crucially, Newman outfoxed Lindgren at the back.

ECHO STAR RIDER – KYLE NEWMAN

 

SUFFERED two falls by challenging the likes of Freddie Lindgren and remained undeterred to beat the Grand Prix star at the back for a useful league point in heat 15.

 

The Dorset charger was on the pace all night and threw down the gauntlet to all comers on a notoriously bad track for Poole in recent years.

 

With three heat leaders out, Newman and Brady Kurtz in particular carried the fight with action-packed efforts.

 

Guest Scott Nicholls top scored and rolled back the years with some masterful, composed manoeuvres to pass his rivals.

 

RIDER SCORES

Wolverhampton 48: 1 Freddie Lindgren (1-0-2-3-0) 6, 2 Peter Karlsson (3-1-0-1*) 5+1, 3 Tai Woffinden (2-2*-fx) 4+1, 4 Jacob Thorssell (3-3-3-3-3) 15, 5 Sam Masters (1*-3-2-2*) 8+2, 6 Max Clegg (1*-r-2) 3+1, 7 Kyle Howarth (2-1-1-1-1*-1) 7+1. Team manager: Peter Adams.

Poole Pirates 42: 1 Rider replacement for Chris Holder, 2 Adam Ellis (2-3-1-0-1) 7, 3 Scott Nicholls (guest) (r-3-1*-3-2-2) 11, 4 Brady Kurtz (0-2-3-3-0) 8, 5 Nicolai Klindt (guest) (r-r-0) 0, 6 Bjarne Pedersen (3-2*-2-0) 7+1, 7 Kyle Newman (f-2-2*-fx-3-1-1*) 9+2. Team manager: Neil Middleditch.

HEAT DETAILS 

Ht 1: Karlsson, Ellis, Lindgren, Nicholls (retired), 54.69 (4-2)

Ht 2: Pedersen, Howarth, Clegg, Newman (fell), 54.88 (7-5)

Ht 3: Nicholls, Woffinden, Masters, Klindt (retired), 54.81 (10-8)

Ht 4: Thorssell, Newman, Howarth, Kurtz, 54.62 (14-10)

Ht 5: Ellis, Pedersen, Karlsson, Clegg (retired), 55.06 (15-15)

Ht 6: Thorssell, Woffinden, Ellis, Klindt (retired), 54.88 (20-16)

Ht 7: Masters, Kurtz, Nicholls, Lindgren, 56.00 (23-19)

Ht 8: Thorssell, Pedersen, Howarth, Ellis, 55.75 (27-21)

Ht 9: Kurtz, Newman, Howarth, Karlsson, 55.69 (28-26)

Ht 10: (re-run) Kurtz, Masters, Ellis, Woffinden 56.44 (fell, excluded) (30-30)

Ht 11: (re-run) Nicholls, Lindgren, Karlsson, Newman (fell, excluded), 57.00 (33-33)

Ht 12: Newman, Clegg, Howarth, Pedersen, 56.72 (36-36)

Ht 13: (re-run) Lindgren, Masters, Newman, Klindt, 56.94 (41-37)

Ht 14: Thorssell, Nicholls, Howarth, Kurtz, 56.62 (45-39)

Ht 15: Thorssell, Nicholls, Newman, Lindgren, 56.38 (48-42)

 

Elite League points: Wolverhampton 3 Poole Pirates 1.