PATCHED-UP Pirates had victory snatched from their grasp by threadbare Leicester as the hosts denied Grzegorz Zengota a winning debut.

Poole led by four points heading into the final heat at Beaumont Park but Danny King and Kim Nilsson delivered an unwelcome maximum to ensure a 45-45 draw.

The meeting ended a period of inaction lasting nearly a month for Pirates and while two points on the road is rarely criticised, team boss Neil Middleditch could well have been left with a feeling of what might have been.

Middleditch was without Brady Kurtz and Jack Holder due to Under-21 World Cup semi-final commitments, with Wolverhampton's Rory Schlein and rider replacement used as cover.

Leicester, meanwhile, were missing no fewer than four riders – Josh Bates, Erik Riss, Jason Garrity and Danny Ayres.

Wolverhampton's Mark Riss and Belle Vue youngster Jack Smith guested at reserve, while Somerset's Josh Grajczonek took his place in the main body and rider replacement was operated for Erik Riss.

Polish flier Zengota finished second in a shared opener before Mark Riss and Smith blitzed to a 5-1 in the reserves' race.

The visitors clawed themselves level in time for heat six thanks to wins for Hans Andersen and Schlein and a couple of non-finishes for Grajczonek.

Nicolai Klindt then celebrated his full transfer to Pirates with a maximum alongside Andersen but after heat seven was shared, Klindt packed up and allowed the Lions to level with a 5-1.

Retaining his record of being unbeaten by an opponent, Andersen headed a race nine heat advantage but the Lions quickly returned the favour.

Zengota got his first win in the skull and crossbones from the gate and the Klindt-Kyle Newman combination gave the visitors a four-point lead with three races left.

A third triumph for Nilsson – ahead of Andersen – narrowed the gap but when Klindt and Schlein secured a 4-2 in the penultimate heat, Pirates were within touching distance of victory.

However, a closing maximum from King and Nilsson ensured Poole took away two points rather than three.

RIDERS' SCORES AND HEAT DETAILS

Leicester 45: 1 Kim Nilsson (3-1-3-3-2*) 12+1, 2 Erik Riss r/r, 3 Lasse Bjerre (3-2-3-0-2) 10, 4 Josh Grajczonek, guest (f-r-2-1-2) 5, 5 Danny King (2-3-2-1-3) 11, 6 Mark Riss, guest (0-3-0-2*-0-0-0) 5+1, 7 Jack Smith, guest (2*-0-0) 2+1.

Pirates 45: 1 Grzegorz Zengota (2-1-3-0-1) 7, 2 Jack Holder r/r , 3 Kyle Newman (1*-1*-2-1-1) 6+2, 4 Rory Schlein, guest (2-3-2-0-1) 8, 5 Hans Andersen (3-2*-3-2-0) 10+1, 6 Nicolai Klindt (1*-1-3-r-1-3-3) 12+1, 7 James Shanes (0-1-1) 1.

HT 1: Nilsson, Zengota, Klindt, Riss, 61.31 (3-3)

HT 2: Riss, Smith, Klindt, Shanes, 62.19 (8-4)

HT 3: Bjerre, Schlein, Newman, Grajczonek (fell), 61.94 (11-7)

HT 4: Andersen, King, Shanes, Smith, 61.75 (13-11)

HT 5 (re-run): Schlein, Bjerre, Zengota, Grajczonek (retired), 61.18 (15-15)

HT 6: Klindt, Andersen, Nilsson, Riss, 61.25 (16-20)

HT 7: King, Schlein, Newman, Smith, 61.57 (19-23)

HT 8: Bjerre, Riss, Shanes, Klindt (retired), 62.31 (24-24)

HT 9: Andersen, Grajczonek, Klindt, Bjerre, 62.18 (26-28)

HT 10: Nilsson, Newman, Grajczonek, Schlein, 62.06 (30-30)

HT 11: Zengota, King, Newman, Riss, 61.62 (32-34)

HT 12: Klindt, Bjerre, Newman, Riss, (34-38)

HT 13: Nilsson, Andersen, King, Zengota, 61.70 (38-40)

HT 14: Klindt, Grajczonek, Schlein, Riss, 61.38 (40-44)

HT 15: King, Nilsson, Zengota, Andersen, 61.69 (45-45)

ECHO STAR RIDER: KIM NILSSON

The Leicester number one was the top scorer on the night, delivering three crucial heat wins.

In addition, he held his nerve to finish second behind Danny King in heat 15, ensuring Lions had something to show for their efforts.

For Poole, Hans Andersen was excellent until the final race, while Nicolai Klindt was the only rider apart from Nilsson to win three heats.

Grzegorz Zengota's seven-point haul was a solid enough start to his Pirates spell but more will surely be required from him in future meetings.