RESERVE star Kyle Newman escaped a heat two spill with mild concussion as Pirates took control of their Elite Shield tie with King’s Lynn.

Poole’s 2014 rider of the year suffered a heavy fall on turn four – an incident in which no other rider was involved – and will miss tomorrow’s second leg and Friday’s challenge meeting at Somerset.

Adam Ellis will guest in Norfolk in Newman's absence.

Neil Middleditch’s side will travel to the Adrian Flux Arena with a 53-39 advantage following a hugely encouraging showing on their own shale.

Paul Starke was among those to impress as he took extra rides in Newman’s absence, the reserve notching 10 paid 13 on his Pirates debut.

The hosts were on for an opening 5-1 until backmarker Niels-Kristian Iversen blasted between Dakota North and Robert Lambert to bring it back to a 4-2.

There was concern for Newman when the youngster crashed to the deck in an awarded reserves’ race, with the Stars taking a maximum success as a result of the stoppage.

Captain Maciej Janowski found a rapid inside line past Kenneth Bjerre in a shared third outing before Starke took Newman’s ride in another 3-3 heat.

As news filtered through of Newman’s withdrawal, Starke continued to pitch in when he kept Robert Lambert at bay in a pulsating heat five, a contest which North won by a country mile.

An uneventful heat six saw the honours shared and Pirates had a stroke of luck next time out when Rory Schlein withdrew with motor troubles, resulting in a fourth shared heat in five and a 22-20 lead for the hosts.

Gomolski registered his maiden triumph in the skull and crossbones while behind him, Starke showed his battling qualities by rounding Kerr, who had started the meeting in fine style.

That battle was renewed in the heat nine but the result was the same, while North was once again convincing out front ahead of Nicklas Porsing.

The Poole advantage became 10 points thanks to a Davey Watt triumph and Janowski’s single point, earned following a frantic tussle with fellow Grand Prix ace Iversen.

Schlein’s heat 11 tactical ride proved fruitless as he failed to get near Holder, while North nipped past Bjerre on a woeful night for the Dane.

Farcical scenes ensued next time out as Kerr threw away three points in the closing metres when he slowed down and allowed the gleeful Starke to snatch victory on the line.

Pirates retained their 10-point lead through heats 13 and 14 with further 3-3s and North put the polish on an excellent debut as he took the chequered flag in the finale.

Gomolski will miss tomorrow’s second leg as he is set to ride in a Polish Golden Helmet qualifier in Krosno.

STAR RIDER – PAUL STARKE

IT WAS a good night for Pirates’ fresh faces and Paul Starke was the pick of them.

Poole were crying out for a reserve to support Kyle Newman last season and, on this performance, it looks like they might have found their man.

Handed extra rides in the absence of the injured Newman, Starke showed plenty of fight and passing ability on his Wimborne Road bow.

The Somerset asset hit double figures and immediately got the crowd on his side.

Dakota North also deserves special mention for his three heat wins, the most of any rider.

RIDERS’ SCORES AND HEAT DETAILS

Pirates 53: 1 Chris Holder (3-1*-3-0) 7+1, 2 Dakota North (1-3-3-1-3) 11, 3 Davey Watt (0-2-3-2) 7, 4 Kacper Gomolski (2-1*-3-1*) 7+2, 5 Maciej Janowski (3-2-1-3-2*) 11+1, 6 Paul Starke (1-1*-2*-2*-1-3) 10+3, 7 Kyle Newman (fx) 0. Team manager: Neil Middleditch.

Stars 39: 1 Niels-Kristian Iversen (2-3-0-1*-1) 7+1, 2 Robert Lambert (0-1-0-2) 3, 3 Rory Schlein (2-r-4^-3-0) 9, 4 Nicklas Porsing (0-3-2-0) 5, 5 Kenneth Bjerre (1*-0-0-2) 3+1, 6 Ashley Morris (2*-0-1*) 3+2, 7 Lewis Kerr (3-3-1-0-2) 9. Team manager: Rob Lyon.

Ht 1: Holder, Iversen, North, Lambert, 61.37 (4-2)

Ht 2: Kerr, Morris, Starke, Newman (fx), awarded (5-7)

Ht 3: Janowski, Schlein, Bjerre, Watt, 61.19 (8-10)

Ht 4: Kerr, Gomolski, Starke, Porsing, 61.97 (11-13)

Ht 5: North, Starke, Lambert, Morris, 61.29 (16-14)

Ht 6: Iversen, Watt, Gomolski, Bjerre, 61.09 (19-17)

Ht 7: Porsing, Janowski, Holder, Schlein, 61.41 (22-20)

Ht 8: Gomolski, Starke, Kerr, Lambert, 62.03 (27-21)

Ht 9: North, Porsing, Starke, Kerr, 62.00 (31-23)

Ht 10: Watt, Lambert, Janowski, Iversen, 61.28 (35-25)

Ht 11: Holder, Schlein (tac), North, Bjerre, 61.81 (39-29)

Ht 12: Starke, Kerr, Morris, 63.41 (42-32)

Ht 13: Janowski, Bjerre, Iversen, Holder, 60.88 (45-35)                                  

Ht 14: Schlein, Watt, Gomolski, Porsing, 61.19 (48-38)

Ht 15: North, Janowski, Iversen, Schlein, 61.28 (53-39)