TWO inspired guest bookings and a sterling team effort helped Poole Pirates see off Lakeside with an impressive victory at Purfleet tonight.

Peter Karlsson and Lewis Blackbird contributed a combined 19 points to the visitors' 48-44 win, which propelled Poole up to second in the Elite League table.

Pirates tracked Wolverhampton duo Karlsson and Blackbird in the absence of Maciej Janowski and Kyle Newman, while Lakeside number one Andreas Jonsson was replaced by King's Lynn charger Rory Schlein.

Poole opened in formidable fashion against a team that had lost five meetings on the spin, including two at home.

The experienced Davey Watt, who had spent three years at Purfleet prior to his return to Pirates in 2015, appeared to have lost none of his track knowledge as he took the chequered flag in the opener.

A Pirates maximum swiftly followed as Blackbird and Paul Starke shocked their opposite numbers, the latter clinging on to keep out Steve Boxall on the line.

Karlsson's good work meant no ground was given after Dakota North's fall but Hammers chipped into the advantage with a 4-2 in heat four.

That pattern continued after the track grading courtesy of a from-the-gate triumph for Kim Nilsson, with Adam Ellis's third place helping to reduce to two points the Poole advantage.

However, Arena Essex track specialists Karlsson and Watt turned the tide with a maximum and the away lead became eight when North and Kacper Gomolski combined for a 4-2.

A second retirement for Starke in as many outings did not unduly harm Pirates as the improving Holder grabbed his first victory ahead of Richard Lawson.

It took a stunning ride from Nilsson to prevent the visitors from increasing their lead further, the Swede chasing down Gomolski and then Blackbird to force a shared heat.

But Poole were not to be denied. Even after Mikkel Bech had gated in heat 10, Holder and Watt reeled in the Dane to clock up Pirates' third 5-1.

Subsequently, tactical man Nilsson could not get the better of North and Schlein's retirement while battling for second summed up the Hammers' night.

The Poole onslaught continued with a Blackbird-Starke maximum as a third Lakeside retirement in as many heats caused havoc – this time Ellis the frustrated party.

But the hosts brought some respectability to the scoreline with maximums in heats 13 and 14, before a third home 5-1 in a row meant Poole departed with three points instead of four.

Pirates team boss Middleditch said: "Everyone played a big part in the win and we had two good guests who did well and we appreciate their efforts.

"Davey knows his way round Lakeside and that was a key factor but everyone scored points right through the team, which is what you need."

RIDERS' SCORES AND HEAT DETAILS

HAMMERS 44: 1 Rory Schlein, guest (0-2-0-2*) 4+1, 2 Kim Nilsson (2-3-3-4^-2*) 14+1, 3 Mikkel Bech (2-0-1-2*) 5+1, 4 Richard Lawson (3-1-2-3-3) 12, 5 Edward Kennett (1*-0-r-3) 4+1, 6 Adam Ellis (0-1-1*- r) 2+1, 7 Steve Boxall (1-1-0-1) 3. TEAM MANAGER: Neil Vatcher.

PIRATES 48: 1 Davey Watt (3-2*- 2*-0) 7+2, 2 Chris Holder (1-2-3- 3-1) 10, 3 Dakota North (f-3-3-r) 6, 4 Kacper Gomolski (0-1-1*) 2+1, 5 Peter Karlsson, guest (3-3-1-1-0) 8, 6 Paul Starke (2*-r-r-2*) 4+2, 7 Lewis Blackbird, guest (3-2-2-3-1) 11. TEAM MANAGER: Neil Middleditch.

HT 1: Watt, Nilsson, Holder, Schlein, 57.9 (2-4)

HT 2: Blackbird, Starke, Boxall, Ellis, 60.2 (3-9)

HT 3 (RE-RUN, AWARDED): Karlsson, Bech, Kennett, North (fell) (6-12)

HT 4: Lawson, Blackbird, Boxall, Gomolski, 60.0 (10-14)

HT 5: Nilsson, Holder, Ellis, Starke (retired), 58.9 (14-16)

HT 6: Karlsson, Watt, Lawson, Bech, 58.6 (15-21)

HT 7: North, Schlein, Gomolski, Kennett (fell/rem), 59.9 (17-25)

HT 8: Holder, Lawson, Ellis, Starke (retired), 59.1 (20-28)

HT 9: Nilsson, Blackbird, Gomolski, Boxall, 59.8 (23-31)

HT 10: Holder, Watt, Bech, Kennett (retired), 59.0 (24-36)

HT 11: North, Nilsson (tactical), Karlsson, Schlein (retired), 60.3 (28-40)

HT 12 (RE-RUN): Blackbird, Starke, Boxall, Ellis (retired), 60.3 (29-45)

HT 13: Kennett, Schlein, Karlsson, Watt, 59.0 (34-46)

HT 14: Lawson, Bech, Blackbird, North (retired) 59.9 (39-47)

HT 15: Lawson, Nilsson, Holder, Karlsson, 59.0 (44-48)