PIRATES relinquished a 12-point advantage as they suffered a frustrating 47-46 defeat at Wolverhampton.

Successive 5-1s had put Neil Middleditch’s men 33-21 ahead after heat nine but an 8-1 maximum spearheaded by Freddie Lindgren got Wolves back in the meeting.

The hosts moved in front for the first time after heat 14 and a shared final outing gave the Monmore side their first win since the end of May, lifting them off the bottom of the Elite League in the process.

Although Poole gained a losing point, there will be significant disappointment in the camp that they failed to capitalise on the absence of Wolverhampton’s regular reserves, Lewis Blackbird and Josh Bates.

And defeat means that the Wimborne Road side cannot now draw level on points with league leaders Coventry when Wolves make the trip to Dorset on Wednesday.

Pirates made a positive start and Davey Watt was first home in the opening race before Paul Starke achieved the same feat, successive 4-2s giving the visitors an early edge.

Lindgren, a long-time expert around Monmore, was not to be denied next as he lowered the colours of Latvian Grand Prix winner Maciej Janowski as Dakota North trailed at the back.

A shared heat four left Poole two points in front and then Watt once more banged in another three points for the cause, supported by Starke in third.

Ricky Wells was too quick for Janowski and Chris Holder but North’s success soon after meant Wolves had secured just one heat advantage out of a possible seven.

The flying Watt then led in Starke to increase to eight points the Pirates lead and another 5-1 followed straight after courtesy of Kacper Gomolski and Kyle Newman, aided by Jacob Thorssell’s prior exclusion.

However, a Lindgren tactical ride and a second place from Wells, ahead of an off-colour Holder and Watt, gave Wolves a hugely significant 8-1 and brought them back within touching distance.

A first win for Janowski helped Poole out in a shared heat 11 and another 3-3 followed when guest Adam Roynon saw off Newman and Starke.

Wolves moved to within three points when Peter Karlsson finally sprung into life, with Janowski splitting the Swede and his compatriot Lindgren to limit the damage.

Disaster struck for Poole in the penultimate race when North and Gomolski came off their machines and although both remounted, Wells and Musielak streaked to victory to put the hosts ahead.

And although Janowski powered to victory in heat 15, the struggling Holder could do no better than fourth, which ensured Wolves were able to cling on.

Poole will hope to bounce back on home shale on Wednesday and the form book suggests they have a decent chance, with Wolves yet to win on their travels this season.

RIDERS' SCORES AND HEAT DETAILS

Wolves 47: 1 Peter Karlsson (0-1-1-3) 5, 2 Jacob Thorssell (2-2-fx-2) 6, 3 Ricky Wells (1-3-2*-3-2) 11+1, 4 Tobiasz Musielak (3-0-1-2*) 6+1, 5 Freddie Lindgren (3-2-6^-1-1*) 13+1, 6 Adam Roynon, guest (2-0-1-3) 6, 7 Max Clegg, guest (0-0-0-0) 0. Team manager: Peter Adams.

Pirates 46: 1 Chris Holder (1-1*-1-0-0) 3+1, 2 Davey Watt (3-3-3-0) 9, 3 Dakota North (0-3-0-1) 4, 4 Kacper Gomolski (1*-0-3-0) 4+1, 5 Maciej Janowski (2-2-3-2-3) 12, 6 Paul Starke (3-1-2*-1*) 7+2, 7 Kyle Newman (1-2-2*-2) 7+1. Team manager: Neil Middleditch.

Ht 1: Watt, Thorssell, Holder, Karlsson (2-4)

Ht 2: Starke, Roynon, Newman, Clegg (4-8)

Ht 3: Lindgren, Janowski, Wells, North (8-10)

Ht 4: Musielak, Newman, Gomolski, Clegg (11-13)

Ht 5: Watt, Thorssell, Starke, Roynon (13-17)

Ht 6: Wells, Janowski, Holder, Musielak (16-20)

Ht 7: North, Lindgren, Karlsson, Gomolski (19-23)

Ht 8: Watt, Starke, Musielak, Clegg (20-28)

Ht 9 (re-run): Gomolski, Newman, Roynon, Thorssell (fell/dsq) (21-33)

Ht 10: Lindgren (tactical), Wells, Holder, Watt (29-34)

Ht 11: Janowski, Thorssell, Karlsson, North (32-37)

Ht 12: Roynon, Newman, Starke, Clegg (35-40)

Ht 13: Karlsson, Janowski, Lindgren, Holder (39-42)                                        

Ht 14: Wells, Musielak, North (fell/rem), Gomolski (fell/rem) (44-43)

Ht 15: Janowski, Wells, Lindgren, Holder (47-46)

STAR RIDER – MACIEJ JANOWSKI

Amazing as it may seem, Maciej Janowski never used to get on too well with Monmore. How times have changed.

Fresh off the back of his maiden Grand Prix triumph in Latvia, Janowski’s confidence was evident around the tight and technical circuit.

He did not finish lower than second and his 12-point haul was a terrific night’s work.

The efforts of Davey Watt are also worth a mention after the veteran Aussie carded three straight victories in his four outings.